When "Other" Is the Most Interesting Item On the Agenda

The Finance and Governance committee quickly disposed of the day-to-day business in front of it Wednesday, transferring money to the town clerk's office to cover expenses for several new town ordinances, approving a new rototiller and trailer for the Parks and Rec department, and reviewing a money-saving and energy-saving proposal developed for the city by Honeywell.

But the sparks began to fly as the committee got to the "other" items on the agenda.

Audit, Double-Audit, Forensic Audit or Investigation?

When committee chair Ron Klattenburg called for a new independent audit of the Board of Education, his proposal was quickly opposed by his Republican colleagues on the committee.


Klattenburg cited charter language which he interpreted as giving the Common Council and the Finance and Governance committee the authority to conduct an audit, a power Klattenburg said the charter does not assign to the mayor.

"The mayor did nothing more than the Council asked him to in its resolution," Council and committee member Phil Pessina shot back.  "What's the implication here that Blum Shapiro can't be impartial?" Pessina asked referring to the audit company hired to look into Board of Education bookeeping.

Mayor Sebastian Giuliano has engaged Blum Shapiro in an audit of the Board of Education.

"How do we know what they'll be auditing," Council member and commissioner Hope Kasper asked.  "There have been things that have been brought to my attention that I want to be sure are examined."

Finance director Carl Erlacher assured Kasper that the auditors, who have already begun their audit, have been asked to direct their audit based on specific complaints made to the Mayor and to the Common Council.

Kasper and Klattenburg still insisted that a separate audit was necessary until his Democratic colleague Gerry Daley disagreed, and indicated he would not vote for a separate audit.

"They happen to be one of the most respected audit companies in the state, and since they are already engaged in a regular yearly audit of the Board of Education it won't cost the city any more," Daley said.  "I would be very concerned with bringing another group at this point.  We all should be very concerned with spending taxpayer money frivolously."

After more debate, Klattenburg conceded that he did not have the votes to move his resolution to the Common Council for a vote, and the committee agreed to have a Blum Shapiro representative attend the next Finance and Governance Committee meeting to be sure that all items of concern are audited.


Money Spent for Police at Board of Education

Another item on the "other" agenda was Daley's request for the cost of personnel for stationing police at the Board of Education by the mayor.

Daley had been given a package of overtime reports by Erlacher, but he asked that the overtime and regular hours be totaled so that he could have an overall picture of costs for the police guard.

"When I heard police officers were stationed in the hallway, I said to myself 'What a waste of money,'" Daley said.  "If they were intent on destroying information all they'd have to do is press a button on the computer or throw something in a wastebasket.  If there was wrongdoing, as was suggested, then lock down the computers and lock down the building.  If there is reason to do it it should have been done the right way."

Erlacher agreed to get the total cost to the committee.

"I don't think the acting Police Chief acted with good judgment," Daley said.  "And the Acting Chief has been not at all cooperative in getting me the information I requested"

"I want to