Audit admonishes East Meadow Fire District

East Meadow Fire District officials need to tighten up credit card procedures and follow their own policy on getting quotes for merchandise and services, according to an audit recently released by the state comptroller’s office.

According to the audit, the district “paid credit card claims without original receipts to substantiate the charges,” which led to $553 worth of personal expenses on one credit card used by a commissioner. The amount was paid back to the district, according to the audit.

“That was an oversight,” East Meadow Fire District chairman Carey Welt said of the personal charges, adding that the district clerk found the discrepancy and the commissioner paid the money back.

In addition, the report said the district didn’t follow its own guidelines on obtaining competitive quotes.

“Sometimes it was done, but not properly documented,” Welt said. Sometimes, getting the proper number of quotes would have slowed down a project or ended up costing the district more money, he said. As an example, he pointed to purchasing cabinets for the dispatch room, saying that they needed to be installed before other work was finished. The first quote was too high, so the board went with a second quote. They were supposed to get three quotes, the chairman said.

“We’re going to be more vigilant,” Welt said.

Above: East Meadow Fire Department Engine Company No. 1