July 10, 2007

WEITZMAN REVIEW SHOWS COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
IMPROVED FOLLOWING 2004 AUDIT

A new review by Nassau Comptroller Howard Weitzman of the county’s Planning Department, part of its Economic Development Vertical (EDV), shows that the department implemented recommendations made by Comptroller Weitzman about tracking time and leave following his 2004 audit of EDV, which revealed a general lack of oversight and control.

"This review shows that the Planning Department has made significant strides in improving the inadequate controls over timekeeping that we found in 2004," Comptroller Weitzman said. "I commend the administration for implementing our recommendations, to ensure that employees are working in the department that hired them and are credited only with the time they have worked."

Problems observed in the original audit included:

• the department did not use the required timesheet;
• compensatory time was recorded by “notations” on the timesheets, and was not earned and used in accordance with normal county practice; and
• some employees on the department’s timesheets were actually employees of other departments or agencies.

The review finds that these problems have been corrected. It also notes that minor improvements still need to be made, including:

• daily initialing of timesheets by the timekeepers;
• the roles of timekeeper and payroll clerk need to be separated;
• "Employee Request and Authorization for Leave" forms should have all required signatures and be filled out completely;
• all overtime hours worked, including weekends and other hours worked outside the normal work hours, should be listed on the timesheet.

The agency has indicated it has now made the recommended changes.

The full text of the report may be read or downloaded by clicking the report title in the link below.

Limited Review of Time and Leave at the Department of Planning