Commissioners: DSS audits being heeded

Published Dec. 17, 2009 at 11:49 a.m.
Mecklenburg County commissioners approved a resolution late Tuesday saying the county has responded appropriately in addressing problems raised by audits of spending within the Department of Social Services.

The resolution, which won support from all nine commissioners, also asks county staff to provide the board more information related to the audits, including copies of memos produced by the county's Internal Audit department and senior county management about the Giving Tree charity within the past year.

The county has said it can account for how $162,000 was spent by the charity in 2008, but said it is unable to offer complete assurance on whether money was spent properly because of the poor condition of receipts and other documents tied to spending.

The resolution came as a substitute motion for a request by the board's three Republican commissioners to hold a session today to discuss a variety of DSS matters, including multiple audits and investigations conducted this year. Commissioners Karen Bentley, Neil Cooksey and Bill James said the meeting could help resolve some unanswered questions about the probes, including giving some current and former DSS employees a chance to talk about concerns without management being present.

The trio had proposed that parts of the meetings be held in open session, but that other portions - including the talks with DSS employees - be held behind closed doors.

But some Democrats, including Commissioner Dumont Clarke, said they did not believe the board should meet in private and said the county has been transparent in providing information on the spending probes. Some also questioned how much additional resources should be spent by the county.

Back | Read more at Charlotte Observer local