The Board's Audit Review Committee met September 18 and got a report from the outside auditing firm of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland. The firm looked at a sampling of cases in the following DSS programs:
-Medical Assistance Eligibility
-CHIPS Eligibility
-DSS Crosscutting - Allowable costs
-TANF eligibility
Minor inconsistencies were noted in each of the programs and DSS has made the necessary corrections
The committee also received the quarterly report from the County Department of Internal Audit. The report included details of the Department's Assurance Engagements with various County departments including:
-Sheriff's Office
- DSS payee services
-LUESA
-BSSA-IT
-Medical Examiner
-AMH
-CSS
Several investigations were conducted about handling cash, gas cards and time reporting.
Internal Audit also gave the committee statistics for The Report Line, the anonymous whistleblower line that allows employees to report incidents of illegal or unethical conduct by co-workers. There were 25 incidents received that included allegations of theft of time, conflict of interest, retaliation and sexual harassment. A majority of the incidents were declared to be unsubstantiated.
Commissioner James reported to the committee that he received an email purportedly from a DSS employee who claims several incidents of fraud within the DSS transportation program. The email shows DSS logs that isolate cases of clients extending a legitimate cab ride to include a trip to a fast-food restaurant, which is not eligible under this federally- funded program.
General Manager John McGillicuddy suggested to the committee that they and other members of the BOCC encourage whistleblowers who send them tips to tell the tipsters to use The Report Line so the information can be made into an official investigation. Commissioner Clarke moved to have the County's Chief Compliance Officer instruct the fraud unit of DSS or others investigate the matter. The committee agreed.
Commissioners who are members of the Audit Review Committee include Dumont Clarke, Bill James, Karen Bentley and George Dunlap.