State Audit Finds Flaws with Commack Fire Department

Commack Fire Department failed to properly oversee the district treasurer's actions and improperly credited members for events they attended, according to an audit released by the state comptroller on Monday. 

Despite no evidence of any criminal activity or wrong doing, state auditors severely criticized the actions of the 's Board of Commissioners for allowing treasurer John Sanzeri to pay bills, make electronic wire transfers and perform other activities without "adequate oversight" from Jan. 1, 2009 to Nov. 30, 2010.

Auditors found, "The Board did not ensure that claims were audited prior to payment and did not provide adequate oversight of the Treasurer’s duties," according to the report. 

During the months of June and July 2009, more than $128,000 in bills were paid by Sanzeri prior to being audited by the Board, according to the report. Similarly, the audit findings stated the Board of Commissioners approved credit card payments worth $4,722 without any supporting documentation in April 2009. 

"We have a treasurer who was doing his job. We had controls in place, but the state felt the controls were not sufficient. We also had a certified public accounting come in and double check," said Thomas McFadzen, chairman of the Commack Fire Department's Board of Commissioners. "It was a difference of opinion." 

In response to the state findings, McFadzen said the fire department has already changed its way of doing business to comply with the state's recommendations. It transitioned to a 30-day billing cycle so payments could be audited by the Board of Commissioners before payment, which took some work with local vendors. Sanzeri will also attend two accounting seminars sponsored by the Office of the State Comptroller, McFadzen said. 

In addition, the state audit found that the fire department had incorrectly given out firefighter service credits for pension. For example, there were 11 instances were members received two credits for attending one event, according to the report.

McFadzen said these service credit errors can easily be explained. 

"We changed over to a computer, there was a computer glitch that we didn’t notice right away," the chairman said. 

The department has since appointed an individual person who reviews attendance at fire district events and is charged with making sure it is reported fairly.