By Bob Gardinier
The Times-Union
EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. — State auditors have told town officials to exercise more control over their contract with the W.F. Bruen Emergency Squad for ambulance services.
The town initiated an agreement with the squad in 1981 to provide ambulance service to 15,500 residents within the town’s 25 square miles.
The town paid from taxes $498,802 in 2008 and $442,772 in 2009 for the special district’s services, according to an audit from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
The service also collected $409,599 in 2008 and $441,820 in 2009 in fees from users of the ambulance, according to the audit.
Auditors looking at records for those years found that the town supervisor and Town Board had allowed the squad to largely oversee the ambulance in violation of their contract and did little to monitor operations or funding flows.
''The town inappropriately abdicated town responsibilities to the squad,’' the audit said.
The audit did not find any wrongdoing or misdirected or stolen funds.
Auditors also said town auditors should not leave the setting of user fees up to the district, but should establish, monitor and update the fees on a regular basis.
''The town did not establish a fee schedule outlining the amounts to be billed to individuals who have been transported and/or treated by the squad as required by town law,’' the auditors said. ''Instead, the town allowed the squad to develop the rates it billed users.’'
The audit additionally criticized the selling of three town vehicles to the squad without proper legal notice or Town Board approval.
Auditors also noted that there were lax controls of the management of a length of service award program that provides pension-like benefits to some ambulance workers. A review of the records revealed that several members in the program were not eligible, inflating the amount of money paid into the system.
Supervisor Rick McCabe said the town is reworking its contract with the squad and would send the comptroller’s office the updated information within 90 days.
A state audit of the town ambulance service 10 years ago criticized town officials for not outlining administrative and financial arrangements with the squad in a written agreements.
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