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Emailsshowcooperation
lacking
Nilesincrisis
June1, 2014
ByCOLINHARRIS,TribuneChronicle
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NILESSomecityofficialsdidnotcooperatewithstateauditorstrying
toconductfinancialandperformanceaudits,accordingtorecords
obtainedbytheTribuneChronicle.
ThelackofcooperationfromTreasurerRobertSwaugerandAuditor
ChuckNadersetoffaseriesofterseemailsfromMayorRalphInfante
andCityCouncilPresidentRobertMarino,whowererespondingto
stateauditorsexpressingtheirfrustration.
Infantesentthefollowingemail,reprintedverbatimhere,to''council
membersandofficials''onNov.15:
''ToAllListed,OnOctober24,2013IForwardedThiseMailToAllOf
YouListed.ErikHoleskoFromTheStateAuditorsOfficeStillHas3
IssuesThatNeedToBeAddressed,TheOnlyOneThatHasResponded
IsTerryDull.PleaseGetTheseIssuesAddressedAsSoonAsPossible
OrIWillTakeFurtherAction.''
Adayearlier,Marinosentthefollowingemail,alsoreprintedverbatim
here,toauditorsofstate,whomhereferstoasAOS:
''RecognizingthatyouarestillawaitinginformationandbecauseIam
notawareofanylegalmechanismavailabletocitycouncilrelativeto
compellingothercitywideelectedofficialstocomplywithyour
request,Iencourageyoutoutilize:
''ANYANDALLLEGALAUTHORITYAVAILABLETOTHEAOSTO
COLLECTTHISINFORMATION...
''Iamcertain,theylikemeareanddispleasedthattheAOShas
repeatedlyhadtorequesttheserecordstonoavail.''
Frustrationonthepartofstateauditorshascontinuedinto2014,as
evidencedbycommentsmadelastweekbyNilesCouncilmanatlarge
andFinanceCommitteeChairmanStevePapalastotheTribune
Chronicle.
''Therewereacoupleofinstancesthatreallygotundermycraw,''
Papalassaid.''Thestateauditorshadsetupameetingbetweenthe
auditors,Mr.NaderandMr.Swauger.Thepreparationswereallmade,
andMr.SwaugerandMr.Nadernevershowedup.''
ThemeetingPapalasreferredtotookplaceonFeb.4,whenaudit
managerAprilStricklandfromthestateauditor'sofficecametothe
citytoreviewfinancialrecordsforApril,MayandJuneof2012.
InanemailtocityofficialsonFeb.5,seniorauditmanagerErik
Holeskofromthestateauditor'sofficenotedthat''yesterday'sreview
ofrecordsdidnotclarifythesituation,sinceBobSwaugerandChuck
werenottheretoanswerquestions.''
PapalassternlyaddressedSwaugerandNaderinfrontofCityCouncil
laterinFebruary.
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''Oneofthedepartmentheads(Swauger)statedhehadareasonfor
notbeing(atthemeeting),''Papalassaid.''Ithinkmaybeoutof
courtesy,thatpersoncouldhavecontactedtheauditorsaheadof
time.Theotherperson(Nader)didnotrespondatall,andIthinkthat
isembarrassing.
''Ithinkitisgoingtobeextensiveifwekeephavingmeetingswith
theauditorsandtheappropriatepeoplefromthecitydon'tshowup,
andIthinkit'sunprofessional.Thishastostop,andwhenCityCouncil
needsworkprovidedbydepartmentheadssothatwecanshowour
resultsandwedon'tgetthat,that'sembarrassingandunprofessional,
andIreallydon'tappreciateit.''
Papalas'commentsdidnotseemtosparkchangeinthecity'sauditor
andtreasurerdepartments,asevidencedbyanemailconversation
betweenStricklandandNaderonMarch14aboutbeginningthecity's
2013financialaudit.Intheconversation,Nadersaid''onceagain,I
wantyoutoholdoffcomingonsiteuntilthemiddleofApril.Iam
sorryaboutthis,butthatiswhatIwant.''
Hourslater,MarinosentafollowupemailtoStrickland,inquiringabout
theunusualnatureofNader'srequesttodelayafinancialaudit.
StricklandrepliedtoMarinoquicklyinanemailthat''(thestate)
typicallyliketogetstartedonourDecember31,auditsinlateJanuary
sostartinginMarchislaterthanwelikealready.''
AccordingtoAssistantPublicAffairsDirectorandPressSecretaryCarrie
Bartunekofthestateauditor'soffice,the2013financialauditofficially
beganMarch21,2014.The2012financialauditofficiallybeganMarch
26,2013.
InaninterviewonThursday,Nadersaidthathisreluctancetoinvite
thestateauditorstohisofficestemmedfromalackofinformationhe
felthecouldprovide.
''Wealwayshaveathirdpartycompanypreparetheinformationfor
(thestateauditors)andtheyhandleallourconversionsfromcash
recordstoanaccrualbasis,''Nadersaid,notingthatthedeadlinetofile
theirinformationwasMay30.''Theirworkwasnotdoneyetatthat
point,andIwastellingthemthatiftheyheldoffcomingtomyoffice,
thentheywouldhavealotmoreinformationtouse.''
MarinonotedonWednesdaythatheneverreceivedanexplanation
fromNader.
AnApril1emailcorrespondencebetweenStricklandandMarino
demonstratesmoreunfulfilledrequestsforfinancialinformation:
''WearehavingsometroublegettingtheDecember31,2013bank
reconciliations,''Stricklandwrote.''ItisnowApril,thereshouldbeno
reasonwecannotgettheDecember2013bankrecordstoview.We
weretoldearlylastweekthat(Swauger)wouldbeintoseeusand
thatdidnothappen.''
Whenaskedwhyhehadnotdeliveredtherequestedinformationto
Strickland,Swaugersaidthattheongoinginvestigationintohisoffice
preventedhimfromdeliveringaccurateinformation.
''I'mnotgoingtoflubareconciliationandtellthestateauditorsthat
ourbooksareinbalance,''Swaugersaid.
InaninterviewwiththeTribuneChronicle,Marinoexpressed
frustrationwithhislackofpowerasitpertainstoassistingthestate
auditors.
''Wetold(thestateauditors)multipletimesthattheyneedtogoget
therecordstheyneed(fromcityofficials)anduseallthepowerthey
have,''Marinosaid.''Wecan'tforce(NaderandSwauger)to
cooperatewecan'ttellthemwhattodo.They'reelectedofficials,and
theyaresupposedtoberesponsibleforwhatgoesonintheir
departments.''
Atthedirectionofstateauditors,thecitybegandigitizingitsfinancial
operations.Currently,thecitytracksitsfinancesusingapaper
system,whichSwauger,MarinoandPapalasallagreedis''antiquated.''
Nadersaidthathisofficehasnotmodernizeditsoperationpartly
becauseofthecity'sdecisiontoupgradeitsutilitysystemsinthemid
2000s.
6/1/2014 Emails show cooperation lacking - TribToday.com - News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Tribune Chronicle - Warren, OH
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''Maybeweshouldhavedonethissooner,butwewantedtomake
surethat(theutilitydepartment)wasstraightbeforeworryingabout
thenextdepartment,''Nadersaid.
InaninterviewonThursday,Infantesaid,''Chuckneedstoworry
about(theauditor'soffice),andBobneedstoworryabout(the
treasurer'soffice),becauselookwhathashappenednow.''
PapalasnotedinaninterviewonWednesdaythatthetreasurerhas
notmadehimselfavailabletothecity'sinformationtechnology
department.
InanApril23emailconversation,Marinotoldcityofficialsthathe
expected''thespecs(fromthetreasurer'sofficeforitsneeds)willbe
verifiedbytheTreasurernolater(thanApril25).Theprojectwill
moveforwardwithanagreeduponcompletiondate(nolaterthan)
July15.''
Swaugerstillhasnotdeliveredthosespecs,accordingtoPapalas.
WhenreachedforcommentFriday,Swaugersaidthathewishedthe
digitizingprocesscouldbefurtheralong,butnotedthathewantsthe
bestpossiblefitforthecity.
"Ibelievethat(thecity)hadasysteminplace,butthenuponfurther
review,wedecidedtogobackandmakesurethatwe'rebuildinga
systemthatwillbeviableintothefuture,"Swaugersaid."We're
spendingtaxpayers'moneyhere,sowewanttodoitwiselyandmake
surethatwe'redoingourduedilligencehere."
charris@tribtoday.com
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