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May 09, 2015

Selected reports and information published by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending May 9, 2015



Selected reports and information published by New York State's Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli during the week ending May 9, 2015
Click on text highlighted in color to access the full report

Delaware Co. – Vehicle Usage and Disposal
County officials did not perform cost-benefit analyses to support the after-hours locations of vehicles. None of the six departments reviewed adequately monitored vehicle usage.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/counties/2015/delawareco.pdf

Fulton County IDA-PILOT Agreements
Seven of the eight payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements that were active during the audit period did not have a recapture clause to recover benefits from the businesses if they did not meet their projected goals.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/ida/2015/fultonco.pdf

Village of Medina – Ambulance Service Billings
The village board did not adequately monitor ambulance billings and amounts collected. Additionally, the village did not send invoices to the three towns for unpaid ambulance bills and administrative billing fees. As a result, the village is owed more than $1 million for ambulance services.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2015/medina.pdf

Village of Nissequogue – Information Technology operations
Village officials have not designated an IT administrator who is independent of the financial recordkeeping. In addition, the board has not developed written policies and procedures, including those for acceptable computer use, password security, data backups and disaster recovery.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2015/nissequogue.pdf

City of Poughkeepsie – Audit Follow-up
Of the seven previous audit recommendations, three recommendations were fully implemented and three recommendations were partially implemented. One recommendation was not implemented. For example, the city has taken steps to reduce the deficit in the general fund and developed a comprehensive plan to reduce outstanding debt.
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/cities/2015/poughkeepsiefollowup.pdf

Sir William Johnson VFC - Controls over financial activities
Neither the former nor the acting treasurer maintained accurate, complete and up-to-date accounting records. Additionally, neither treasurer consistently performed monthly bank reconciliations or provided the board with monthly and annual financial reports.

Former Member of the State Assembly pleas guilty of State and Federal charges
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that former Member of the State Assembly William Scarborough, age 69, of Queens, New York, has agreed to enter guilty pleas on federal and state public charges stemming from public corruption investigations.

College Savings Sweepstakes announced
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced a $500 sweepstakes to help a lucky New Yorker plan ahead for college. Winnings from the sweepstakes will be put in a new or existing 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan account. The New York 529 College Savings Program, an investment tool designed to help families save for college, is overseen by DiNapoli’s office in partnership with the Higher Education Services Corp.

Woman indicted for alleged stealing pension benefits payable to her deceased mother
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the unsealing of a one count indictment charging Linda Miller, 57, a resident of Englewood, N.J., with grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony, in Albany County Court. Miller is alleged to have stolen over $162,000 in pension benefits from the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System, payable to her deceased mother, Josephine Miller.

New Jersey resident alleged to have stolen pension benefits payable to his deceased godfather
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the unsealing of a one count indictment before the Honorable Peter Lynch charging Terence Fitzpatrick, 43, a resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, with the crime of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, in Albany County Court. Fitzpatrick is alleged to have stolen over $78,000 in pension benefits from the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System, payable to his deceased godfather, Thomas Sullivan.

Former Town HighwaySuperintendent found guilty of having stolen $65,000 from the Town
Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that Roger Burlew, the former Highway Superintendent for the town of Erin who stole $65,000 from the town, has been sentenced to serve six months in jail and five years of probation. As part of Burlew’s sentence, he must also pay full restitution to the town of Erin. In the event that Burlew fails to pay restitution, he faces up to fifteen years in state prison.

Legislative spending for travel and per diems to reported quarterly
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that his office will report on legislative spending for travel and per diems on a quarterly basis. DiNapoli also announced his office approved 2,178 contracts valued at $2.9 billion and approved more than 2.8 million payments worth more than $19.7 billion in March. His office also rejected 230 contracts and related transactions valued at $364.5 million and nearly 5,000 payments valued at more than $12.3 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

CAUTION

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NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
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