Nassau County audit faults North Hempstead for late payments to park district; dismisses some resident complaints

A Nassau County audit of a North Hempstead special park district faulted the town for late lease payments but dismissed a host of resident complaints about the town's handling of finances and property.

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos sought an audit in February 2011 after residents complained.

Former Supervisor Jon Kaiman, a Democrat, had said the county did not have the authority to audit a town and that the move from the Republican Maragos was "unconstitutional."

The town agreed to the audit in May 2013 after a series of failed legal challenges. The review, which covered 2011-2012, included transactions from the early 1990s.

The audit found the town failed to make lease payments totaling $180,000 to the Clinton G. Martin Park District from 1991 to 2002, but it noted the town caught up on the past due amount in 2011.

Officials said the town began making lease payments to the district in 2003.

Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a statement the audit "verifies that the town is up to date with its lease payments and contractual obligations" to the park district.

SEE PHOTOSParks and preserves across LI

Auditors also noted "minor issues," including errors in the reclassification of park employee salaries, were not always identified and corrected in a timely manner. And town administrative salaries and other expenses were allocated to the district based on budget appropriations instead of actual cost, auditors wrote. But they said there was no evidence of inappropriate charges to the district.

Auditors dismissed various resident complaints, finding that town council members can serve as members of the park's board. In response to a resident who said cash was not safeguarded and thrown into a box, auditors "found that cash, checks, and credit card charges were adequately controlled and properly coded . . . deposited in the bank and reported in the CGM general ledger."

To complaints that lounge chairs marked "property of CGM" were seen at other parks, auditors said they were advised lounge chairs are often shared among parks.

Auditors affirmed other town actions and recommended the town monitor lease payments so they are paid on time.

SEE PHOTOSUnspoiled Long Island places to explore

Kaiman, who took office in 2004, said "it turns out that the comptroller was just doing his job making sure that we, the town, were doing our job. As it turns out, we all did our job well."