SEPTEMBER 20, FARMINGVILLE, NY – Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced the release of the state’s audit of Brookhaven Town internal operations at a press conference Thursday at noon in Brookhaven Town Hall. The audit was conducted at the request of Supervisor Foley when he took office.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, second from left, and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, at Supervisor Foley's left, announce the release of an audit of the town's internal operations. At left is Town Highway Superintendent John Rouse and at right is Town Clerk Pam Betheil.

   Supervisor Foley praised the audit’s detailed recommendations and said that the town has already put in place policy changes to implement the recommendations as soon as possible.

   “The Comptroller’s efforts to both confirm the areas of concern we identified as problem areas and to identify areas where improvements to Town operations can be made are most appreciated,” said Supervisor Foley. “This administration wholeheartedly embraces the Comptroller’s recommendations and we will include them as an integral component in our ongoing effort to reform town government, improve internal operations and efficiently enhance service to our residents.

   “One of our most important duties to our constituents is to make certain that every tax dollar is spent frugally and wisely, and the Comptroller’s suggestions will help us do our business better.”

   “We are grateful for the hard work of Comptroller DiNapoli and his staff on his recently completed audit,” said Town Highway Superintendent John Rouse. “This audit is helping us to promote our policy of transparency in town government and most importantly will help us to continue to manage our residents’ tax dollars with the utmost efficiency.”

   “We appreciate the Comptroller’s diligence because we knew we needed every possible resource to help us reform the way Brookhaven does business,” said Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld. “We enthusiastically welcome his recommendations and we are well on the way to fully implementing them.”

   The audit found that in 2005 the town did not adequately control overtime and out-of-title costs. The audit also found that controls over the solicitation of bids were inadequate, and that some contracts were not publicly advertised for bids as required by state law. The audit also found that controls to protect assets in the Town Clerk’s office were inadequate and that the town had failed to establish policies and procedures for the security of the computer data system.

   In its response in the audit, the Town noted that the new administration saw right away upon taking office that overtime costs and out-of-title pay had been significantly and routinely under-budgeted. In fact, the Suffolk County District Attorney investigated the Town’s use of overtime in 2005 and in previous years. The Town budgeted realistically for overtime expenses in its first budget in 2007. However, the Town noted that the existing labor contract, which runs through 2011, severely limits the town’s ability to vary work hours.

   Out-of-title procedures are being formalized and standardized across departments based on the Comptroller’s recommendations. All out-of-title payment requests are now double-checked by the Payroll division in the Finance Department.

   The audit found that the Town paid $89,000 more than necessary for the purchase and installation of a chain link fence in 2005 due to faulty competitive bid procedures. The contract was not renewed with that vendor, the bid specifications were rewritten and the contract was re-bid. Corrective action has already been implemented to ensure that the proper estimated quantity of materials needed is included in all bid specifications. The new administration found upon taking office that the majority of town departments, including the Town Clerk, had little or no guidance on how to handle and safeguard cash. This year, cash audits of every department were undertaken, corrective action plans were formulated for every department, and a Universal Cash Policy for town-wide implementation is being created and will soon be submitted to the Town Board for approval.

   Town Clerk Pam Betheil, who took office in January of 2006, in her response to the audit, noted one by one the policy changes she had made to follow every one of the Comptroller’s recommendations. Policy changes to implement most of the recommendations have been completed and the others are well underway.

   “My administration is all about bringing best practices to Brookhaven Town government,” said Supervisor Foley. “I again thank Comptroller DiNapoli for his assistance in helping us continue the process of reform in the Town of Brookhaven.”

Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677