The Fishers Island Waste Management District has been criticized by the state comptroller’s office for its failure to comply with state law governing municipal purchasing practices.
The district overpaid for some items as a result, the auditors said in a report released today.
State auditors reviewed the district’s books and records pertaining to purchasing for the period between January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 and found the district violated the state General Municipal Law requirements for competitive bidding of contracts that meet certain dollar thresholds.
Auditors also faulted the district’s purchasing policy itself for noncompliance with state law, noting that the district’s policy did not require competitive bids for any purchase. Instead, the policy requires three written quotes for purchases in excess of $5,000 and public works contracts in excess of $10,000. But that doesn’t meet the law’s requirements. In addition, the district did not provide written specifications for items, which would allow prospective vendors to respond to the district’s exact needs.
District chairperson Ann Banks responded to the auditor’s draft report by a letter dated Jan 16, in which she said the district’s five-person board had adopted a new purchasing policy, which she forwarded to the auditors for review.
“The district’s newly adopted purchasing policy does not comply with GML,” the comptroller’s office replied. “District officials should consult with legal counsel to develop and amend the policy.” The comptroller’s office did not elaborate.
A district representative could not be reached for additional comment this afternoon.
Southold Town has no oversight no role in the district’s appropriations, Supervisor Scott Russell said today. “The Fishers Island Waste Management District operates at the direction of its own five-member Board of Commissioners, not the town.”
