Nassau County Sanitary District 7 Waste Fiscal Consolidation

Special Taxing Districts | Sanitary District 1 | Sanitary District 2 | Sanitary District 6 | Sanitary District 7

 

• Outrageously Large Salary
From 2006 to 2008, Sanitation Supervisor Charles Scarlata’s gross wages were totaled at $667,163. Combined with his deferred compensation, his actual income equals $966,693. Scarlata was the only employee to receive a $10,000 bonus in both 2006 and 2008 for a “job well done.”1

 

• Shopping Spree
Sani 7 has credit card accounts with Home Depot, Staples and Ace Hardware; spending nearly $60,000 at these stores between 2006 and 2008. They also don’t have a control log of who uses the credit cards.2

 

• Automatic Vacation Time
Supervisor Scarlata was automatically given 5 weeks of vacation upon being hired – something the Civil Service Employees Association usually grants to those who have worked for a minimum of 16 years.1

 

• Overpaid and Out-of-Position Staff
People are given higher job titles to justify a higher salary. For example:
• A District messenger, a civil service Grade 2 position with a salary of $22,000 to $39,000 had a base salary in 2008 of $94,000. This salary would be that of an Accountant III title.
• In 2008, an employee whose duties were that of a clerk had a civil service title of “messenger” and a base salary of $97,000.
• An office worker was classified as a “recycling worker” and had a base salary of $88,000.2

 

• Accounting that Doesn’t Account for Errors
The District doesn’t review the claim book or general ledger for errors or omissions. All accounting information is put into three unlinked software applications with no procedure in place to ensure accuracy. The accountant is the only person who can explain each schedule and the accountant’s work is not subject to regular supervisory review.2

 

• Irresponsible Administration
The District doesn’t have written policies that list its basic authority, responsibilities, duties; etc. It does not have a written policy concerning a Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest.1

 

• Half-Million Dollars Spent Without Approval
More than a half-million dollars was paid out to vendors without approval by the General Sanitation Supervisor. Claim voucher numbers are reused year after year, so there is no way to tell when claims were initiated.2

 

• Free Gas Usage
Sani 7 doesn’t have effective controls against unauthorized use of fuel – which is VERY expensive. 16 keys to access the fuel were distributed without a list of who received them. The Supervisor keeps a “mental check list.” There are no security cameras in the area making it hard to tell when or how often the employees use the fuel pumps. There is no way to tell if the employees are using the fuel for district or personal vehicles.2

 

1 Nassau County Comptroller Audit, Limited Review of Compensation and Fringe Benefits for Sanitary District No.7–Town of Hempstead, 29 October 2009
2 Nassau County Comptroller Audit, Limited Financial Audit of Sanitary District No. 7–Town of Hempstead. Review of Procedures and Internal Control Environment, 29 December 2009

 

 

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