Politics & Government

Audit Recommends Changes in Town Record-Keeping

Petrone welcomes recommendations, says audit is 'affirmation' of town practices.

This article was posted by Leah Bush. It was written by Pam Robinson.

The state audit of the Town of Huntington faulted record keeping by some departments but did not find big problems with the town's financial controls.

The audit, which was released by the town late Friday afternoon, made nine recommendations, mostly dealing with two main issues: accuracy in recording the hours worked by employees, including supervisors' overtime, and billing by outside, contracted attorneys.

Two main issues were addressed in the state comptroller's audit were:

Did town officials monitor and maintain appropriate records for employees leave benefits and dovertime?

Did the town use competitive methods to obtain legal services and pay for services rendered based on appropriate written agreements and adequate documentation?

On the first question, the audit said the town "may have higher payroll costs than necessary because town officials did not monitor and control these costs."

On the second, the audit said "taxpayers have less assurance that the town is obtaining thse professional services as econoimcally as possible" and that legal bills were often not itemized. "As a result, town officials cannot verify that they are receiving appropriate services...or ensure that services billed by outside attorneys do not duplicate services already provided by town attorneys."

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone was pleased with the audit.

 “I am especially pleased that, having looked at the broad range of financial policies and procedures, the comptroller’s office focused on two very limited issues in a $190 million budget,” Petrone said. “While serving as an affirmation of the policies that have helped Huntington maintain its AAA bond rating, we also appreciate the audit’s insight on how to make Huntington’s government operate even more efficiently. We will consider changes to implement the recommendations we have not already put into place.”

Town Councilman Gene Cook had led the demand for an audit of the town, which the Town Board agreed to seek in April 2012. 

In a letter dated March 27, 2012, to Ira McCrackin, a chief examiner for the comptroller's office in Long Island, Cook said he felt "uncomfortable" with the town's financial protocol and a sequence of events including temporary blockage of access to town financial information. "Upon taking office, it was brought to my attention that the procedure, handling or protocol for dealing with public funds by the town may be lacking in different areas," said Cook, in the letter. 

The audit covered the period from Jan. 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.


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