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Schools

Still No Internal Auditor for Northport

The Northport BOE rejected the Audit Committee's recommendation of auditing firm R&S Abrams.

Acknowledging a rocky RFP process in the quest for an internal auditor, the Northport Board of Education voted 7-2 to table a motion recommending R&S Abrams as the district's new internal auditor so that the audit committee can interview one more candidate. Board President Stephen Waldenburg and Trustee Lori McCue cast the opposing votes.

In August the committee had voted unanimously in favor of Abrams after interviewing three other candidates. But CPA Larry Beck later withdrew his vote upon learning that eight firms had actually submitted RFPs. That original list was cut to four by Superintendent Marylou McDermott and Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Molander at Waldenburg's request.

The committee met again before Monday’s BOE meeting. According to Beck, he presented a motion for the committee to rescind the recommendation of R&S Abrams but was opposed 4-1. 

Member Tom Lavin, also a CPA, made a motion to ask the Board to allow the committee to interview one additional accounting firm. The committee was in favor 3-2 but the motion failed because a minimum of four votes was needed to carry it. Beck, who cast an opposing vote, said he was asked to change his vote, but refused based on the grounds that the entire process is flawed. He found no fault with Abrams but would have liked to see the whole RFP process started “from scratch.”

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Despite the committee’s recommendation in favor of Abrams, Trustee Jennifer Thompson opposed the idea so that members could be allowed to interview a fifth firm, which was not named, to “remove all doubt."

Trustee Donna McNaughton, a regular attendee at committee meetings, agreed. She called the Abrams interview "phenomenal," but was troubled by the differing opinions of Beck and Lavin.

Abrams got a nod of approval as well from Trustee Joe Sabia, who said he only learned that there were eight RFPs when "I read about it on Patch."

Trustee Julia Binger, a Committee member, also approved an additional interview.

Find out what's happening in Northportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Saying he was concerned about "collective amnesia," Waldenburg reminded board members about a memorandum that he had sent about the RFP candidates. "I'm a little bit put off by the continual comments that things were done in a back room. I'm quite frankly upset to hear that. There was no intent to deceive."

Board member and Committee Chair Andrew Rapiejko said audit committee members were given information on all eight candidates, but that some of the information was delivered after the interviews.

Trustee Tammie Topel was concerned about the appearance of impropriety. "I think we owe it to the community to look at one more firm."

Trustee Lori McCue was comfortable with Abrams and questioned the need to lengthen the process. "Our charge as a board is to have a competent auditor."

Molander confirmed that all RFPs are handled by the district's purchasing department. Going forward, Rapiejko said the committee and the board will discuss the committee's role in the RFP process. "I like to learn from a mistake," he said."That's my intent. I expressed that to the audit committee, and they said they were glad to hear that."

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