Former Alderman, Hayes Clement and Bill Carey Advisor Anne Marie DiBella Hit in Comptroller Audit

 Page 10 of District Audit, Alderwoman DiBella at time was the homeless coordinator for the Kingston City Schools, she has since been given a different title.





The District contracted with a vendor for tutoring, mentoring
and educational consultant services provided at off-site locations
to homeless students residing at shelters and residential motels.
The vendor employed nine individuals to provide those services.
The agreement, dated September 3, 2009,5 was for $46,000.6 The
agreement did not adequately specify the services to be provided, the
documentation requirements necessary to receive payment, or any
monitoring requirements. Instead, the District relied on inadequate,
informal monitoring procedures to verify the activities of these
independent contractors.


One District employee (liaison) was responsible for monitoring
these services. However, the liaison also worked for the vendor
and provided these services on the vendor’s behalf. In effect, this
individual was charged with monitoring her own time. The liaison
also prepared monthly vouchers that the vendor submitted to the
District. These vouchers contained hourly rates for services ranging
from $8 to $45, but did not sufficiently detail the hours or services
provided. Also, the submitted claims did not have attached time
records for the tutors, mentors and consultants, nor did they contain
supporting documentation to provide evidence that District students
received these services.
This service contract included a $1,000 provision for materials and
supplies.

The vendor submitted vouchers (prepared by the liaison)
for these reimbursements. Purchases totaling $367 of a $664 voucher
appeared to be improper. These purchases included 21 gift cards
totaling $125 to fast-food chain restaurants, a $50 grocery store gift
card, a $40 gas gift card, and meals purchased on two occasions totaling
$152. The liaison did not provide reasons for these purchases, and did
not document the recipients of the items. These purchases appear to
be inconsistent with the services to be provided under the agreement.
The lack of accountability and supporting documentation in cash
disbursements to this vendor could result in abuse or professional
misconduct by the liaison, tutors, mentors or educational consultants
working for the vendor, and result in taxpayers paying for services
not rendered or intended.


Contractual Conditions and Rates – Cash disbursements should
be made pursuant to written contracts. These contracts should be
signed and dated by the service provider and the appropriate District
offi cial(s). Similarly, any changes to existing contracts