Confidential secretary pay, benefits, family ties, and a disputed final date put Hartland payroll decisions under scrutiny
HARTLAND, NY - A confidential secretary position in the Town of Hartland is now part of a larger debate over taxpayer money, family connections, and whether employment decisions were handled transparently under
the prior administration.According to the current administration, Ross Annable’s wife served as confidential secretary. The same account states that Bill Annable’s wife had also held the position for a few years before that.
The position had reportedly been treated as full-time with benefits. Approximately $40,000 was reportedly budgeted for the role in 2024. When the new supervisor took office, Liz Neadow was appointed to the position. The administration says Neadow expected to earn about $31,000 in 2026.
The most disputed issue involves a final-day employment date. According to the new administration, at the last board meeting before the transition, the former board approved Audrey Annable’s last day as January 1, 2024, rather than December 31, 2023.
That one-day difference reportedly would have entitled her to additional vacation time and cost the town approximately $4,000. The new board later corrected the date, saying the prior board did not understand that the one-day change had a financial impact.
Critics describe the move as an attempted money grab by Ross Annable and his wife . Before that conclusion can be treated as proven, the town should release the exact board minutes, payroll calculation, vacation accrual policy, and any correspondence explaining who requested the date and why.
The public also deserves to know whether any family relationship was disclosed, whether any official recused themselves, whether the town attorney reviewed the issue, and whether board members understood the financial effect before voting.
This issue becomes more serious in light of claims that former board members did not always read resolutions fully before approving them. David Mongielo of WakeUpNY.net, says he has video of former Hartland board members stating they relied heavily on then-Supervisor Ross Annable’s direction. If employment and benefit decisions were approved without full independent review, that should concern every taxpayer in Hartland.
The questions now are simple: who requested the January 1 date, who voted for it, was the financial effect disclosed, did the town attorney advise the board, and why was the date later corrected?
Hartland residents do not need political spin. They need the documents: the budget line, appointment records, payroll records, benefit records, board minutes, and any legal advice connected to the disputed final date.
A taxpayer-funded position tied to relatives of elected officials requires extra transparency. Without a full public accounting, residents will continue to question whether town employment decisions were made in the public interest or to benefit insiders.
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Source notes / records to attach or verify: • Payroll and salary records for the confidential secretary position from prior and current administrations. • Board minutes approving Audrey Annable’s final day and any later correction. • Vacation accrual policy and calculation of the alleged $4,000 impact. • Budget records showing the amount allocated for the position in 2024, 2025, and 2026. • Appointment records for Liz Neadow and prior confidential secretaries. • Video statements from former board members regarding reliance on Ross Annable’s direction. |
