Orient mismanagement deserves attention

To the editor:
    The purpose of this letter is to report a town that has been run illegally for over a decade. The mismanagement of Orient, Maine has been reported to several government agencies for over a decade. Even though the misconduct has been legally documented, these petitions have been ignored.
    Some of the negligent acts are as follows:
• Our taxes increased 75 percent in 2008 without warning. This year they have almost doubled; again, without any notification.
• The decision to raise taxes and set the mill rate this year was held in a secret, unannounced meeting, which is illegal. The townspeople must be notified and be given a chance to input their opinions.
• The tax bill is misstated. Bills were received in October 2011. The payment due date was listed as September 2011.
• The property valuation used to set the mill rate was not completed. A valuator did not visit our property. The last valuator to visit was Mary Beth Foley, who was recently relieved of duties as a result of mismanaging funds in this town.
    As an Orion taxpayer, I find these inadequacies unacceptable. And even more intolerable is the fact that our government has ignored these deplorable actions for years.
    Our country was founded on the principles of taxation and representation. These principals are absent in the town of Orient.
Terri Smith
Moline, Ill.