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²Lake Worth's laxity invites corruption, acting leader warns

By NICOLE JANOK

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

LAKE WORTH — Interim City Manager Robert Baldwin has warned commissioners that, if the city doesn't improve its internal controls and administration, it could become a breeding ground for corruption.

Baldwin told commissioners at a budget meeting that the city lacks internal controls, accountability and responsibility and cannot function properly without them.


"We have not found what we would say is corruption," Baldwin said during the meeting last week. "But this city is prime for that kind of activity. If you don't address these problems, that could be down the line."

Baldwin emphasized that the city desperately needs more managers, after several commissioners questioned why most of the 44 eliminated jobs in the proposed 2007-08 budget are low-level positions.

News of the city's dire management situation comes just weeks before commissioners will see an internal audit conducted by Scott Menke, whom the commission hired in March after it learned the public works department spent $300,000 for a landfill reclamation permit without commission approval.

Menke has spent several months evaluating city departments and analyzing their practices.

After he started the internal audit, Finance Director Anne Costello abruptly retired June 1 after 22 years with the city. In February, Public Works Director Mike Frey retired after his department's $300,000 spending oversight was made public.

The audit, expected to be made public next month, probably will reveal the mismanagement suspected to have taken place in numerous city departments for years.

Mayor Jeff Clemens was not surprised to hear that the city needs stronger management. The commission must be open about the city's past problems to correct them, he said Friday.

"We shouldn't hide from it," Clemens said.

"Nobody likes bad publicity, but if we're going to correct any of these mistakes, we've got to talk about it openly."

Commissioner Cara Jennings, who had questioned Baldwin's personnel cuts, said she is willing to try Baldwin's recommendations in an effort to resolve "issues from Lake Worth's historical past of mismanagement."

Jennings and Commissioner Dave Vespo, who were elected last year, said they have seen evidence of mismanagement, unaccountability and irresponsibility from city staff.

"It's the wild, wild West in this city," Vespo said Friday.

Vespo asked last week why the internal audit has taken so long. He and other commissioners are eager to get the report, which probably will not be made public until after the budget is approved.

But evidence that the city's interim leaders are trying to take control of the problems can be seen in the city's proposed budget.

Baldwin and interim Finance Director Mark Bates, who was hired to help the city move through its budget process after Costello retired, have suggested a multi-department reorganization, which the commission has applauded.

In the proposed budget, which would be approved after a second public hearing Sept. 18, the finance, public works and utility departments have been overhauled. Among the changes: The finance department would add more accountants and take over the collection of utility payments.

The commission also has adopted a policy regarding staff travel spending and has approved researching outsourcing options for several city departments, including trash collection and public safety.



 

² Palm Beach Post

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