-Previous Lack of Accountability - taxpayers continue to pay Supervisor takes steps to address problem-
JANUARY 23, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY – Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley today announced that his Team is uncovering a disturbing trail of financial mismanagement; most recently finding an unpaid bill to a property owner that was mishandled since January of 2001, and as a result racked up $102,614.52 in interest.
“This is the kind of thing we were afraid we were going to find,” said Foley. “Waste and mismanagement have cost the taxpayers of this great Town too much for too long. There was no accountability or transparency, clearly no one was minding the store.”
Other clues that point to an overall lack of accountability were found in the lack of purchasing approval and invoice sign-off procedures within the Supervisor’s office:
- Invoices did not include written justification;
- Invoices did not include narration describing the project;
- Contracts did not include copies of the bid;
- If paying a contractor, there was no proof that the work being paid for was completed satisfactorily;
- No inspection report;
- No description of services performed, etc.
In recent examples, Deputy Supervisor Jack Schnirman was asked to approve a $17,000 invoice for tiles, $12,000 for a basin ring, $10,000 for lamps and $12,500 for tires. The only items provided were invoices signed by department heads. There was no explanation of what the items were used for or where they went; there were no memos attached giving narratives of the projects and justification for the expenses. These are just a few examples of what has been found. The Supervisor’s Office has been asked to approve hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of invoices without any backup included to show that the expenses were legitimate. It is clear that this was standard operating procedure in the past. They all may be valid expenditures, but without measures in place to ensure accountability, this Town is left open to fraud and abuse.
Supervisor Foley’s Team is working to build that needed accountability. “We are mandating a series of standardized procedures and forms to attach to each check, contract, professional service requisite, etc.,” said Jack Schnirman, Deputy Supervisor. “Every person required to approve these bills must have the back-up documentation. Signatures are required for a reason,” Schnirman continued. “They should be an indication that the signer has taken the time to review the need for the product or service and determined that the expense is justified.”
“My office will not be a blind rubber stamp,” added Foley. “We are bringing a far greater level of scrutiny to this process. We are instituting the much needed checks and balances. Unfortunately, we will most likely find other disturbing revelations concerning the cavalier approach to purchasing approvals which has existed in this office for far too long.”
Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677
www.Brookhaven.org