1988-1990-FISCAL AUDITS AND REPORT OF EXAMINATION - MASHPEE INDIAN MUSEUM

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Town of Mashpee —5— May 5, 1976 and distribution of the books was volunteered by Mrs. Bingham. The condition of and inadequacy of the records maintained at the Museum was also discussed. In connection therewith Mrs. Bingham stated that she did not have time to maintain detailed financial records. The subject of donations to the GuT Museum was also discussed. Mrs. Bingham stated that due to the difficulty in MM r W retaining funds donated to the Museum for use in the Museum it was necessary to form an organization called "Friends of the Mashpee Indian Museum Inc.". She also stated that after forming this organization in 1973 that donations were accepted by the "Friends" rather than by the Museum and that no donations were accepted by the Museum itself. However in searching t through the Museum files a list of 42 names was discovered. This list stated that it was a list of contributors to the Museum and not "Friends of the Mashpee Indian Museum Inc." during 1974-75. There has been no further q discussion with Mrs. Bingham concerning this list. A rf ?' Conclusions: 1. There were no meaningful financial records ever maintained for the Mashpee Indian Museum. 2. No system has ever been in effect to control the flow of funds .' h generated through the operation of the Museum. 3. The money received by the Museum from its opening in 1973 through s. the 1974 season was improperly used to open an unauthorized bank account. With the exception of the prior comments in this report it appeared that all funds put into this account were used for Museum business, although { unauthorized. 4. The duties of the Museum director included the responsibility for financial management. 5. The Museum director in her capacity as Museum director contracted 0f with a private printing company to print books at a cost of $1,600 without P P g P Y P $ , authorization from town officials. E. 6. The organization, "Friends of the Mashpee Indian Muaeum Inc." appears �a to have .been formed to limit the authority of the Town of Mashpee in determining the disposition of funds donated to the Museum.