12-10-09 Investigation & Audit Committee

INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

TOWN COUNCIL MAJORITY OFFICE

DECEMBER 10, 2009

PRESENT William P. Horan, Jr., Temporary Chair; Councillors Barbara
Rossi and
Donald H. Pitkin

ALSO
PRESENT Michael Walsh, Finance Director
Linda Trzetziak, Assistant Finance Director
Joseph Carlson, Town Treasurer
Jenna Lombardo, Manager, Blum Shapiro
Vanessa Rossitto, Blum Shapiro
Joanne Zatarain, Business Services, Board of Education
Paul Mainuli, Business Services, Board of Education

CALL TO ORDER

Temporary Chair Horan called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

NOMINATION OF OFFICERS
Don Pitkin placed in nomination the name of Bill Horan
as Chair of the Investigation & Audit Committee.
Barbara Rossi seconded that nomination.
Don Pitkin placed in nomination the name of Barbara Rossi
as Secretary of the Investigation & Audit Committee.
Bill Horan seconded that nomination.

ADOPTION OF RULES GOVERNING MEETINGS

MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order as the rules that shall govern
parliamentary procedure at all subcommittee meetings, with the exception
that (1) the Chair shall not be required to restate the motion of any
Council member unless requested by another Councillor, or when in the
discretion of the Chair, such restatement is necessary to avoid any
confusion as to the motion; and (2) where such rules are in conflict with
the provisions of the State Statutes, the Town Charter, or Town
Ordinances.
Motion carried 3/0.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MEETING DATES

MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to hold meetings at the call of the Chair.
Motion carried 3/0.

STORAGE OF RECORDS

MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Don Pitkin
to store records in the Town Council office.
Motion carried 3/0.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

June 11, 2009 Meeting

MOTION By Barbara Rossi
seconded by Don Pitkin
to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2009 meeting.
Motion carried 3/0.

OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK

None

NEW BUSINESS

Receive and Accept the Draft of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
for
Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2009.

Michael Walsh, Finance Director, initiated a general discussion of the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and introduced Vanessa
Rossitto of Blum Shapiro, who initiated a comprehensive discussion of the
CAFR. Ms. Rossitto noted that the Independent Auditors’ Report gives the
Town the highest form of opinion available under the Government Auditing
Standards. Mr. Walsh noted that town revenues were down in several line
items as a result of the downturn in the economy, but also noted that
mid-year action taken by the Town, and by the Board of Education, led to
substantial savings that basically offset the losses in expected/projected
revenue. Ms. Rossitto noted that many, if not all, towns saw similar
problems with revenue downturns due to the economy.

MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to accept the draft of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report as
presented by the town’s auditors for Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2009.
Motion carried 3/0.

Town Hall Renovation Project

Michael Walsh initiated a general discussion regarding the Town Hall
renovations and the possibility of having an independent audit of the
project. Mr. Walsh also noted that there are parts of the project not yet
completed, i.e., new windows, however, the project should be completed by
May 2010.

Councillor Don Pitkin distributed a package of documents, and expressed a
concern that surplus bond funding from the East Hartford Community
Cultural Center roof project had been diverted to the Town Hall renovation
project in that $22,350.00 was directed to windows and masonry restoration
and $450,088.00 was directed to the Handicapped Accessibility & Masonry
Restoration project. Mr. Walsh discussed the procedural history of the
Town Hall renovation project and the relevant funding.

Councillor Pitkin requested a written response from the Mayor to his memo
dated November 2, 2009. Mr. Walsh opined that the questions posed by
Councillor Pitkin in his memo of November 2nd would necessarily be
addressed in an audit undertaken on the project. Chair Horan will request
an estimate from Blum Shapiro on the cost of an audit of the Town Hall
Renovation project and report back to the Investigation & Audit Committee.

Mr. Walsh requested that Councillor Pitkin copy him on any/all
correspondence to the Attorney General’s Office, the Town’s Bond Counsel,
and the like, and Councillor Pitkin agreed to copy Mr. Walsh on same.

No further action taken at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION By Don Pitkin
seconded by Barbara Rossi
to adjourn at 12:53 p.m.
Motion carried 3/0.

C: Town Council
Mayor Currey
Mike Walsh, Finance Director
Linda Trzetziak, Assistant Finance Director

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