10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
By GAIL WESSON
The Press-Enterprise
A just-released Riverside County grand jury report criticizes bookkeeping and delays in completing audits by the Idyllwild Fire Protection District and places blame on elected fire commissioners for lack of oversight.
As in a 2007-08 grand jury report, the 2010-11 review recommends the district hire a consultant to do a cost analysis to compare district operations and a Cal Fire contract for services.
The district provides fire and ambulance services in the mountain community using full-time career firefighters, paid-call firefighters and reserves.
Three of the district board's five commissioners have been serving only since December 2009, and Fire Chief Norm Walker was hired last August.
Some of the issues predate the majority of board members, and are issues "this present board has inherited from the past," board President Pete Capparelli said by phone. "I want to thank the grand jury for putting their time and energy into evaluating the department."
Walker replaced Steve Kunkle, who left in spring 2010. Walker, who worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 36 years before he retired from that agency, was not available to comment. He is on a federal fire management team assignment in New Mexico.
The district's response to the audit is due Sept. 12.
Besides hiring Walker, the board in the past year has changed auditing firms and hired a certified public accountant, Capparelli said.
Capparelli said he couldn't address why there was a delay in completing past audits. The district's 2004-05 audit was not completed until November 2008, audits for the next three fiscal years were completed in 2009 and the 2008-09 audit was done in November, according to the grand jury report.
The grand jury is recommending training for board members on their responsibilities and compliance with the state's open-meeting laws.
The report also noted one commissioner took a leave of absence as a paid-call firefighter while on the board. The grand jury contends that is a conflict of interest. Capparelli said he will discuss this with the commissioner, Chip Schelly.
Reach Gail Wesson at 951-763-3455 or gwesson@PE.com
FINDINGS
A just released 2010-11 Riverside County grand jury report made the following findings:
Inadequate bookkeeping system
Annual audits not performed annually
Board members deficient in performing duties
Open meeting law violation
Conflict of interest by a board member
Lack of study to compare service costs
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_eidyll22.3fcea68.html
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