West Seneca didn’t follow purchasing guidelines, state audit finds (Buffalo News)

[luv2fish]

West Seneca didn’t follow purchasing guidelines, state audit finds

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/west-seneca/west-seneca-didnt-follow-purchasing-guidelines-state-audit-finds-20150810
By Barbara O’Brien
News Staff Reporter
on August 10, 2015 - 7:00 PM
, updated August 10, 2015 at 8:49 PM



West Seneca did not always follow its own guidelines when purchasing goods and services, a state audit found.
The state recommended the town should review and approve claims before paying them, obtain written and oral quotes, consider seeking proposals for professional services and periodically update its procurement policy.
The audit by the office of State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli looked at the town’s purchasing practices from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 18, 2014.
It found that town officials “generally adhered” to state law when buying goods and services that required competitive bidding.
But “officials did not always follow the requirements of the town’s procurement policy for purchases,” the audit stated.
State law requires that purchases over $20,000 go to the lowest responsible bidder or proposal, and competitive bidding must be used for contracts greater than $35,000.
The town also did not get the necessary three approvals before all claims were paid.
The audit found a number of payments to the information technology vendor were approved by one person, the supervisor.
When told of the problem, the town updated its process to make sure the town attorney, finance director and a board member sign off on the expense, while the other two board members review it.
Supervisor Sheila Meegan said the audit contained constructive criticism, and she is glad the auditors looked at the books. The town updated its purchasing policy last month.
“We took immediate action,” she said of the suggestions in the audit, adding that the town broke no laws.
The audit also faults the town’s electronic purchase records for not including enough information for officials to determine if town policy was followed on purchases.
One board member told the auditor his computer access was removed and he was told there were not enough available licenses to restore it.
Not having access to the records restricts a board member’s oversight capability, the audit found. The access was restored after the auditor asked the supervisor to re-evaluate the situation.
Among other findings:
• The auditors could find no evidence that the board approved 19 of 55 purchases it tested.
• There were nine claims totaling $97,095 where officials could not provide quotes or evidence that they requested more than one quote.
• The town did not get proposals for engineering work that cost $1.4 million in 2014. Although it was not required to do so, the town may have gotten a better price if it did, the audit said.
A candidate for supervisor criticized the current administration for a lack of transparency and said the audit shows finances have not been handled properly.
“You really have to adhere to general municipal law as well as the town’s procurement policy,” said Christina Wleklinski Bove. “This audit proves neither of them were being followed.”
email: bobrien@buffnews.com

• Fed-Up • 4 hours ago
  Well of course Meegan changed things immediately, it's election time. It wouldn't be done otherwise. This town was a great town to live in. Meegan has changed all that.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• [COLOR=rgba(0, 39, 59, 0.498039)][/COLOR]
• •
• Reply
• •
• Share ›
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Samson • 11 hours ago
  The current leadership in West Seneca took action after they got caught. They lie: the following was stated by the West Seneca Town Supervisor in an article on August 6, 2015 regarding your audit;"Every voucher is looked at by five people — the person who puts it in, the department head, myself, or one of the other board
  members, then the finance office, and then there’s an overall
  approval from all of the board members.” The audit states: “1/3
  of all purchases were not approved by the town board,
  which is required.” The Supervisor said in the above article: “The
  town is extremely conscientious with where money is going and how it
  is handled, and the process it takes for each and every claim to be
  identified, ”Your audit states: “in all instances, the Town Board paid bills without the evidence of quotes.” As you can see from the enclosed article, the current administration is very cavalier with their discussion of the people's money. There was a Buffalo News article on August 2, 2015, regarding civil servants
  making over $100,000, the WS Town Supervisor was quoted saying. “We
  have a great team. They’ve never made that kind of money before.
  It’s never going to happen again.” Town records reflect that every one involved in the story has been compensated at almost doubled their salaries for last three years. Additionally, only a few are in the “great team” category in that department
  who received the opportunity of overtime. Walsh Meegan is a liar.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 2 [COLOR=rgba(0, 39, 59, 0.34902)][/COLOR]
• •
• Reply
• •
• Share ›
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Jon Sweeeney • 11 hours ago
  Dingle Barry
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• [COLOR=rgba(0, 39, 59, 0.34902)][/COLOR]
• •
• Reply
• •
• Share ›
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Tell the Truth • 12 hours ago
  Begin to connect the dots - current Supervisor Meegan is the daughter of Pigeon-pal Chris Walsh - perhaps DiNapoli should dig a bit deeper into the WS BS. Is it any wonder why WS taxes are sky high??
  
  
  
  
  
  

[WNYresident]

Tell the Truth,
Is it any wonder why WS taxes are sky high??

It is because all the services your "town service providers" offer the property/business owners. Don't you take advantage of all the services that are available?

[WNYresident]

Samson • 11 hours ago
The current leadership in West Seneca took action after they got caught. They lie: the following was stated by the West Seneca Town Supervisor in an article on August 6, 2015 regarding your audit;"Every voucher is looked at by five people — the person who puts it in, the department head, myself, or one of the other board members, then the finance office, and then there’s an overall approval from all of the board members.” The audit states: “1/3 of all purchases were not approved by the town board, which is required.”

The Supervisor said in the above article: “The town is extremely conscientious with where money is going and how it is handled, and the process it takes for each and every claim to be identified, ”Your audit states: “in all instances, the Town Board paid bills without the evidence of quotes.” As you can see from the enclosed article, the current administration is very cavalier with their discussion of the people's money. There was a Buffalo News article on August 2, 2015, regarding civil servants making over $100,000, the WS Town Supervisor was quoted saying. “We have a great team. They’ve never made that kind of money before.

It’s never going to happen again.” Town records reflect that every one involved in the story has been compensated at almost doubled their salaries for last three years. Additionally, only a few are in the “great team” category in that department who received the opportunity of overtime. Walsh Meegan is a liar.

"Took action after getting caught"... That is how it always works out. If it wasn't pointed out by the comptrollers office it would have continued.

[SOMETHING SMELLS]

Where was Hart ? Hart's stated he worked in the State Controllers office when running for election 4 years ago, saving money for the taxpayers and would bring his knowledge to the Town of West Seneca ! I wonder which Councilman the audit referred to who told the auditor he had no knowledge of payments because of his computer

[Just the Facts]

So politics aside, would all agree that if the Town Board, again failed to follow purchasing/contractual State guidelines since the release of the State OSC audit; they should go?
Either by honorable resignation, voted out of office or indictment (depending on the severity of the violation).

[4248]

Yes, that's the problem - Politically influenced people over see Politicians - who's gonna want to take aim at someone who could affect their employment or Party Endorse ?

There is no penalty for what judges have ruled, "Bad Governance" - your vote or a recall petition is the only answer.

Stand up !

Join the DARE program - Dare to take a stand !