Town Council gets extra week to reply to audit

HENDERSON — The Town Council has an extended deadline to send an official response to a preliminary draft audit done by the state comptroller's office.

Supervisor Raymond A. Walker said he has until Friday, a week after the original date.

"I'm waiting for the auditor to meet with two more of the board members," he said.

As requested by the comptroller's office, an auditor was supposed to meet with the entire board in an executive session, a violation of the state Open Meetings Law. That meeting never took place.The auditor never met with all four board members at once but met with Mr. Walker and Councilman Frank W. Ross about two weeks ago and met with Councilwomen Torre J. Parker-Lane and Carol A. Hall earlier this week.

The concerns listed in the draft by the auditor included how town officials "safeguarded their financial resources," specifically citing problems with internal control over cash transactions and receipts.

Some of Town Clerk Charlotte R. Richmond's responsibilities will be reassigned because of findings in the draft audit.

The draft audit states the way the town handles its money transactions isn't sufficient and may not be accurate. It recommends that "the same individual does not perform all phases of a transaction." Currently, Ms. Richmond is the only person who collects and records town funds.

Mr. Walker said he will oversee the financial records and receipts kept by the town clerk and the rest of the board members will serve as liaisons for different areas of town business.

"I'll correct any issues and verify any changes to make sure they are all above board," he said.

Some other account discrepancies that were noted in the draft audit relate to interfund advances and interest payments from water districts No. 1 and 2. The draft audit says there are no receipts or records for repayment of $209,138 to the general fund from the water districts.

Mr. Walker said the money was repaid and that issue will be taken up with the auditor before the draft becomes final.

The draft audit makes note of the lack of written procedures for accounting for cash receipts for trash and construction debris disposal at the transfer station and for the water vending machine located by the town barn that allows residents to buy water by depositing quarters into a lockbox. The previous board installed a meter to keep track of the water that was sold.