Elmont FD Crooks

[nctaxpac]

Thanks Elmont FD for ripping off the taxpayers for your paid dinners, trips and overspending!

Elmont Fire District's spending criticized
August 4, 2011 by STACEY ALTHERR / stacey.altherr@newsday.com

The purchase of more than $1,000 in tickets to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game and more than $1,800 spent on what appeared to be one meal at a Baltimore restaurant were among the examples cited in a state comptroller audit that criticized the Elmont Fire District for a lack of oversight and failure to adopt and enforce a written policy on the appropriate use of credit cards.

The report released Thursday also is critical of the appointment of a district treasurer who "lacked the criteria to perform public officer duties, and key budget controls were not implemented or effective to restrict and monitor budgetary activity."

The audit states that the fire district issued nine credit cards to the five commissioners, two firehouse men, the treasurer and the district secretary but did not have proper policies in place for their use. All told, 122 of 143 randomly selected credit card transactions, totaling $38,380, did not have sufficient documentation to prove whether the charges were legitimate. Seventy-seven of those transactions had no receipts at all. The audit covered the period Jan. 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010.

The district spent $1,196 for tickets to an Orioles game, $1,840 for a meal at a Baltimore restaurant and $699 for a meal at a local restaurant, including $100 for beer, which "served no District purpose or were clearly inappropriate," read the report.

In its written response to the audit, the district said it will tighten up fiscal controls.

In a response issued Thursday, attributed to Frank Hrbek Jr., chairman of the board of commissioners, the district said, "The issues in this audit were administrative and procedural in nature. We've already taken steps to enhance our procedures to address several of the findings, and we will continue to monitor financial controls and ensure that proper systems are in place."

The district said in its written response the board will also have written travel policies, which will include no alcohol.

The audit also noted that a treasurer, by law, must be a resident and employee of the district, not a contractor. But Elmont's treasurer appears to be an independent contractor, not an employee, the audit said. A nonresident may be appointed if the board determines no resident is willing to serve, but "there is no indication" that happened, according to the audit.

In response, the district said the treasurer was properly appointed but not put on payroll, which will be done.

The audit also chided the district for overspending its budget for fire equipment and dipping into its reserves. The district responded that new purchasing controls have been put in place to monitor spending on equipment.

[Elmont Scummies]

looks like they spend every penny on other shit....a corrupt firehouse. are we surprised?

everyone there is on the Town of Hempstead payhole./

[Unregistered59]

guess what assholes... all the money spend was from the state anyway for convention dinners and meetings.. the biggest corrupt fd is the FDNY

[agreed...]

then elmont!

[jfklqbfvabs]

yea but thier racing rigs looked real good and fast after they rolled them out of the nascar trailer today in hempstead.

[Former Chief too]

If the residents of Elmont are unhappy vote the Fire Commissioners out and put your own people in come next December. Take five years , but you'd have commissioners to your liking.

[nctaxpac00]

guess what assholes... all the money spend was from the state anyway for convention dinners and meetings.. the biggest corrupt fd is the FDNY

No asshole! All the money they spent was from the wallets of the home and business owners of the Elmont Fire District. Where do you think taxpayer monies come from you low life ignorant piece of white trash???

[Unregistered5800]

the residents of elmont cant speak english any way,they won't know the difference

[UEGHGOWI]

True Dat, True Dat.

[Not Surprized 1234]

This come as no surprise to me and I'm a member of an island board.

The arrogance of some BOFC members to this day still amazes me. They think it's business as usual or things as they used to be. The thought process is keep a low profile for long enough and the people will forget the news articles.

Are all BOFC's bad? NO

There are some really good and honest Comm's out there trying to do the right thing but they have to fight not only for the "Right Thing" but often against other boards, their own fellow board members and many of the self serving organizations and committees which have been created over the years.

[C Solages]

Haitians for ELmont! Vote for me.

[ngjogjigw]

This come as no surprise to me and I'm a member of an island board.

The arrogance of some BOFC members to this day still amazes me. They think it's business as usual or things as they used to be. The thought process is keep a low profile for long enough and the people will forget the news articles.

Are all BOFC's bad? NO

There are some really good and honest Comm's out there trying to do the right thing but they have to fight not only for the "Right Thing" but often against other boards, their own fellow board members and many of the self serving organizations and committees which have been created over the years.


youre probably the biggest crook of them all...... you dooooooosh!!!!

[Unregisteredpornstar]

youre probably the biggest crook of them all...... you dooooooosh!!!!

Yeah..but they still have MARV THE FIREMAN!!!

[Unregisteredbobmarley]

Hey maaaaaan... I love reggae.

[Hey Ralphy Boy]

Elmont Fire District's spending criticized
Originally published: August 4, 2011 8:09 PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 9:16 PM
By STACEY ALTHERR stacey.altherr@newsday.com

The purchase of more than $1,000 in tickets to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game and more than $1,800 spent on what appeared to be one meal at a Baltimore restaurant were among the examples cited in a state comptroller audit that criticized the Elmont Fire District for a lack of oversight and failure to adopt and enforce a written policy on the appropriate use of credit cards.

The report released Thursday also is critical of the appointment of a district treasurer who "lacked the criteria to perform public officer duties, and key budget controls were not implemented or effective to restrict and monitor budgetary activity."

The audit states that the fire district issued nine credit cards to the five commissioners, two firehouse men, the treasurer and the district secretary but did not have proper policies in place for their use. All told, 122 of 143 randomly selected credit card transactions, totaling $38,380, did not have sufficient documentation to prove whether the charges were legitimate. Seventy-seven of those transactions had no receipts at all. The audit covered the period Jan. 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010.

The district spent $1,196 for tickets to an Orioles game, $1,840 for a meal at a Baltimore restaurant and $699 for a meal at a local restaurant, including $100 for beer, which "served no District purpose or were clearly inappropriate," read the report.

In its written response to the audit, the district said it will tighten up fiscal controls.

In a response issued Thursday, attributed to Frank Hrbek Jr., chairman of the board of commissioners, the district said, "The issues in this audit were administrative and procedural in nature. We've already taken steps to enhance our procedures to address several of the findings, and we will continue to monitor financial controls and ensure that proper systems are in place."

The district said in its written response the board will also have written travel policies, which will include no alcohol.

The audit also noted that a treasurer, by law, must be a resident and employee of the district, not a contractor. But Elmont's treasurer appears to be an independent contractor, not an employee, the audit said. A nonresident may be appointed if the board determines no resident is willing to serve, but "there is no indication" that happened, according to the audit.

In response, the district said the treasurer was properly appointed but not put on payroll, which will be done.

The audit also chided the district for overspending its budget for fire equipment and dipping into its reserves. The district responded that new purchasing controls have been put in place to monitor spending on equipment.

[Unregister ed666]

THE ACTUAL REPORT

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/firedists/2011/elmont.pdf

[Unregistered ralphy]

others will be removed in short order. bloated budgets buying trucks every ten years unnecessary fire house renovations and the drill team morons, and what will ralphies girlfriend say.they way is on the way out,he's seen some of the out of conrol spending assholes of his age group thrown out on their headds.

[You r kidding]

So let me understand this the elmont commissioners are going to put financial controls in place to avoid spending tax dollars on beer, ballgames and meals that have nothing to do with fire fighting or fire training?

Ah do they really need controls to know this wrong?

That was covered in their mandatory training when they took office.

It sounds more like oh well you caught us we're sorry but we'll make up some new rules which we can ignore as soon as you folks forget about this report...

[Unregistered ralph's]

are thinning out and his gumada will be outted this is relic tht has to go

[Unregistered18569]

Will this ever end? Will these people ever be held accouhtable?

[on the border]

Will there be any follow up to this or has snooze-day moved on to something else?

[hey come on guys]

Now now now elmont are you tryin to bury this story by moving it off page one?

[Ed Norton]

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's audit of the Elmont Fire District, for the period of Jan. 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010.

Spending nearly $1,200 on Baltimore Orioles tickets and more than $1,800 at a restaurant seem like snapshots of a celebrity lifestyle — not life in a Fire District. Those charges, however, were revealed in State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s audit of the Elmont Fire District from Jan. 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010. DiNapoli announced the completion of the audit on Aug. 4.

“My office’s audits of local governments improve their financial management practices,” he said. “These audits are tools for local officials to make sure proper policies and procedures are in place to protect taxpayer dollars and provide the best possible service these taxpayer dollars can deliver.”

According to DiNapoli, the Elmont Fire District’s Board of Commissioners has not adopted and enforced a written policy governing the proper use of credit cards, and the district paid credit card charges that served no district purpose — including $1,196 for tickets to an Orioles game and $699 at a Baltimore restaurant, $100 of which was spent on beer.

The district also paid a commissioner’s $1,840 charge for a meal at a Baltimore restaurant, without requiring any documentation, according to DiNapoli’s office. Additionally, the comptroller said, the district board appointed a treasurer who lacked the credentials to perform the duties of a public officer, and key budget controls were not implemented or effective in restricting and monitoring budgetary activity.

Finally, according to the audit, the Fire District’s financial reports, including the annual update and audited financial statements, did not contain correct information.

A district spokesperson, who declined to be identified, said that several of the charges included in DiNapoli’s report were based on incidents that took place several months ago, and the Elmont district has since been working to improve its financial procedures.

“The issues in this audit were administrative and procedural in nature,” said Frank Hrbek Jr., chairman of the Fire District’s Board of Commissioners. “We’ve already taken steps to enhance our procedures to address several of the findings, and we will continue to monitor financial controls and ensure that proper systems are in place.” The Fire District declined to comment further.

In a July 1 letter to Ira McCracken, chief examiner of local government and school accountability for DiNapoli’s office, which is included in the audit report, Hrbek wrote that the board views the comptroller’s report as “an opportunity to review and improve upon” its procedures and practices, and intends to do so. He went on to explain that the board was in the process of developing new internal financial controls that would address the issues raised in the audit, including a written credit card policy, which would include repercussions for users who fail to follow its rules.

Hrbek also wrote that the board would amend the district’s travel-expense policy, and that travel advances would no longer be provided. Additionally, he stated that a qualified treasurer would be appointed.

Comments about this story? JNash@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 214.

[Apathy]

So like whats going on with this snoozeday? Thats it one days coverage?

[Unregisteredrillteam]

So what really happened last night with their serious drill team accident down at the track? I really hope that alcohol was not part of this mess. Maybe it's time for the state to outlaw motorized drills for the safety and benefit of the volunteers.

[1459556]

All I have to say to the above is DICK. Bless those guys and there families at this time. Hope the outcome is a good one.

[Unregistered6701]

So now that there are serious injuries at a drill team practice .Will the local fds outlaw racing as a means of "training its members ">or Will this bring to light that the tax payers pay for this type of activity that is not "training" at all just an outlet for fds to spend more tax payer dollars on food and beer. I hope that this opens a few eyes out there that this is not something as a tax payer we sign on to by letting our firefighters "play" behind a truck moving at high rates of speed just for a trophy and That we should be spending money on real training. God Bless all that were hurt .

[maxmo]

I saw it with my own eyes and laughed to myself because what goes on there is unchecked. Whats with the bunker complex? Its like hitler's Berlin
digs!

[nctaxpac11]

Elmont along with several other fire districts have gone unchecked for years by New York State. Things are now changing under Cuomo's watch. As for motororized drill teams, they are a total waste of tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars for racing rigs and associated gear. Many guys have gotten killed or severely injured all over the state in the past 30 years and it should be outlawed.

[SHAMESHAMESHAME]

I saw it with my own eyes and laughed to myself because what goes on there is unchecked. Whats with the bunker complex? Its like hitler's Berlin
digs!

You saw people get seriously hurt and you laughed????

Shame on You

[mrsstats]

You hope alcohol wasn't involved. Why would you even think that? Do you have an idea of how dedicated these people are to what they do. This was an unfortunate accident. I am not saying people don't drink, but not when they are on the trucks.

Many people have been killed???? How many???

And no, I am not involved with Elmont or any racing team.

[Unregistered football]

Maybe we need to outlaw high school football as well. Football doesn't help anybody pass a math exam, and more students are injured each year in football games and practices than during racing season. Oh wait, that would be the untouchable school districts. Nevermind.

[Unregisteredelmotedelonte]

tak ewaht u can get boys !!!1 u deserve every penny and more, screw th epublic Ha ha.....we love your money, and that steak was awesome, rib eye, yum the best and seeing the lowly orioles wasnt so bad eithier.....I love elmont !!!

[seriously doubt it]

You saw people get seriously hurt and you laughed????

Shame on You

Just a troll. Was a mechanical failure, all the "miilions" people think are spent are really not. I used to watch the front wheel on every run and prayed every time it started to wobble because you couldn't get the money to check the stress fractures on the A frames in the beginning of the season.
Thoughts and prayers to the kids and the families.

[Unregistered/1213]

Just a troll. Was a mechanical failure, all the "miilions" people think are spent are really not. I used to watch the front wheel on every run and prayed every time it started to wobble because you couldn't get the money to check the stress fractures on the A frames in the beginning of the season.
Thoughts and prayers to the kids and the families.

"You couldn't get the money"?

How about everyone on the team kicks in $10?

None of the members know someone who owns a garage with a Magnaflux tester?

How about you spend less money on beer and food and more on making sure the race car is safe?

You can't possibly expect us to believe the FD is out of money.

[nctaxpac11]

ACCIDENT PROMPTS QUESTIONS ABOUT RISKY FIRE DRILLS - From WNBC News

Three Long Island volunteer firefighters were injured after they were launched from the back of a truck during a drill.

The four men were thrown from the truck when it veered into a wooden guard rail during a practice session in North Woodmere.

The victims’ names were not being made public.

The men, between ages 20 and 26, were conducting what is called a "drill team training exercise."

The drill team is a troupe of firefighters that practices acrobatic maneuvers with ladders and hoses, often while speeding down makeshift drag strips, hanging onto the specialized vehicles.

“It is something that has gone on for decades, 100 years maybe,” said Elmont Fire Chief Mike Capoziello. “It’s prevalent on Long Island. Upstate departments do it.”

Nassau County police have opened an investigation into the crash.

The most severely injured victim is a 26-year-old man with about 10 years of experience on the force. He suffered a serious head injury, although Capoziello said his condition has improved dramatically since the accident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our engine members and their families. I’m really not thinking about anything else but that right now,” he said.

The accident prompted questions about the drill team exercises, which have little resemblance to routine firefighting conditions.

On a Facebook page filled with messages of sympathy for the recovering victims, a firefighter from a neighboring district criticized the adrenaline-filled drills as a waste of time and resources.

“What’s the sense in racing, u get nothing out of it except headaches. If fire districts have money for racing, they should establish career fire fighters like the FDNY,” the post read.

Despite the criticism, members of the Hempstead Fire Department drill team gathered for practice Wednesday.

When an assistant chief noticed NBC New York's news camera, he requested the team leave the training facility.

When NBC New York refused, the drill team began packing up their equipment.

[maxmo]

No idiot! The operation!

[magnaflux]

"You couldn't get the money"?

How about everyone on the team kicks in $10?

None of the members know someone who owns a garage with a Magnaflux tester?

How about you spend less money on beer and food and more on making sure the race car is safe?

You can't possibly expect us to believe the FD is out of money.

They are inspected regularly and safe for the purpose, a critical failure happens on many engineered products and materials like mass produced cars, airplanes, hell even firetrucks.

Seriously, it's not done with a "spot check kit" and twenty guys on the team that's $200.00. You have to pay someone to take the A frames off, send them to a lab, pay for the test, get them back, pay to reinstall them then align, including replacing the bushings, fasteners, etc.. You are clueless, last time we did it in my department because of a percieved age issue of the components, it was over $5K. Believe me, most Boards won't go for that kind of scratch no matter what you think. It was a sudden failure and all the events have been cancelled for the weekend, "in an abundance of caution".

And we in our place already chip in $20.00 a week to pay for what we eat and sodas, waters and beers for later.

It was an unaticipated accident from all reports. Think of that next time you get on a train, plane, automobile, etc..

[Unregistered/1213]

They are inspected regularly and safe for the purpose, a critical failure happens on many engineered products and materials like mass produced cars, airplanes, hell even firetrucks.

Seriously, it's not done with a "spot check kit" and twenty guys on the team that's $200.00. You have to pay someone to take the A frames off, send them to a lab, pay for the test, get them back, pay to reinstall them then align, including replacing the bushings, fasteners, etc.. You are clueless, last time we did it in my department because of a percieved age issue of the components, it was over $5K. Believe me, most Boards won't go for that kind of scratch no matter what you think. It was a sudden failure and all the events have been cancelled for the weekend, "in an abundance of caution".

And we in our place already chip in $20.00 a week to pay for what we eat and sodas, waters and beers for later.

It was an unaticipated accident from all reports. Think of that next time you get on a train, plane, automobile, etc..

I can't believe that a typical firehouse doesn't have at least 5 guys who can rebuild the front end of a car with a double "A" arm suspension. You need to pay someone to remove the "A" arms? Man up and buy a socket wrench.

If you paid 5K to do that work how much does the entire car cost?

No wonder the budgets are so outrageous.

Oh, and as far as being clueless, I'll put my degree up against yours any day.

As far as being clueless, how about the poster that I responded to watching the front wheel wobble and not doing anything about it - now that's clueless.

I guess the bottom line is that the FDs can't afford to run safe cars down the track so lets get rid of the whole "training" aspect of this and send the guys who are really into it over to Englishtown to get their kicks.

[it's not a degree]

I can't believe that a typical firehouse doesn't have at least 5 guys who can rebuild the front end of a car with a double "A" arm suspension. You need to pay someone to remove the "A" arms? Man up and buy a socket wrench.

If you paid 5K to do that work how much does the entire car cost?

No wonder the budgets are so outrageous.

Oh, and as far as being clueless, I'll put my degree up against yours any day.

As far as being clueless, how about the poster that I responded to watching the front wheel wobble and not doing anything about it - now that's clueless.

I guess the bottom line is that the FDs can't afford to run safe cars down the track so lets get rid of the whole "training" aspect of this and send the guys who are really into it over to Englishtown to get their kicks.

There are quite a few guys that can take them off and do it, as we repaired regularly. But we are not "certified", hence the liability, so they wanted it checked properly out of concern. (good for them) And the car costs a pretty penny, but ours is actually going on twenty years now, the big truck closer to fifty.

And the budgets are not outrageous because of that. We had Commissioners that wanted to get PO boxes in Ohio because when you go out to bid for a fire truck, insurance or equipment in LI, the price jumps about forty percent.

And I was the one that watched the wheel wobble. You bring a 19" down to 2 lbs. so it grips, and guess what? You spin it really fast and what happens? Did you get that physics course with your degree? The suspension was good, just wondered about the stress is all.

Actually it is quite safe. And back in the day, they used to go to the old National speedway on off days and get quite a few "eliminator" stickers. It's been a tragic event and the practice has been around since the late 1800's.
Like I said before, all events have been cancelled, everybody is "standing down" to try to figure out what happened. You just have to let go of the anger, and learn the facts.

[Unregisterednoomyllib]

wonder what the osha investigation is gonna reveal? a firefighter cant ride on the back of a fire truck going to a fire but he can ride the back of a race car going almost 80 mph in an event that has nothing to do with the modern fire department? how many boys of summer actually get up in the middle of the night to go to ambulance calls? how much money is filtered through regular fire truck repair to be used on race trucks?

the real sad part is the guys who go hurt in my department are actually firefighters who go to fires, not like most racing guys

time to end this white trash 'sport' for good

[U let go!]

The facts are this it is not related to the safety and protection of the tax paying public. It serves no firematic or EMS purpose at all. All teams, drills, equipment and practices cost money. In a double dip rescession with unemployment approaching double digits every dollar counts. The bottom line is you can not make an arguement that volunteer departments are more cost effective then paid when money is being wasted. Elmont is an example of the problem. The innocent kids hurt in this drill are symtoms of the larger issue.

Drill teams do nothing for recruitment and retention, nor do parades or 90% pf the convention activities, training and product evaluation are fine the rest is pure waste. If you want to go to places for training thats fine, but you learn nothing useful at an Orioles game.

IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM STOP THE WASTE AND FEELINGS OF ENTITLEMENT NOW?

[Unregistered border]

Will there be any follow up to this money spending issue or has snooze-day moved on to something else?

[U7876858]

ACCIDENT PROMPTS QUESTIONS ABOUT RISKY FIRE DRILLS - From WNBC News

Three Long Island volunteer firefighters were injured after they were launched from the back of a truck during a drill.

The four men were thrown from the truck when it veered into a wooden guard rail during a practice session in North Woodmere.

The victims’ names were not being made public.

The men, between ages 20 and 26, were conducting what is called a "drill team training exercise."

The drill team is a troupe of firefighters that practices acrobatic maneuvers with ladders and hoses, often while speeding down makeshift drag strips, hanging onto the specialized vehicles.

“It is something that has gone on for decades, 100 years maybe,” said Elmont Fire Chief Mike Capoziello. “It’s prevalent on Long Island. Upstate departments do it.”

Nassau County police have opened an investigation into the crash.

The most severely injured victim is a 26-year-old man with about 10 years of experience on the force. He suffered a serious head injury, although Capoziello said his condition has improved dramatically since the accident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our engine members and their families. I’m really not thinking about anything else but that right now,” he said.

The accident prompted questions about the drill team exercises, which have little resemblance to routine firefighting conditions.

On a Facebook page filled with messages of sympathy for the recovering victims, a firefighter from a neighboring district criticized the adrenaline-filled drills as a waste of time and resources.

“What’s the sense in racing, u get nothing out of it except headaches. If fire districts have money for racing, they should establish career fire fighters like the FDNY,” the post read.

Despite the criticism, members of the Hempstead Fire Department drill team gathered for practice Wednesday.

When an assistant chief noticed NBC New York's news camera, he requested the team leave the training facility.

When NBC New York refused, the drill team began packing up their equipment.

[Unregistered34333222]

Suprised........!

[Hollie]

These guys do this because they enjoy it! Let me ask you why you post negative comments on line about something that you are obviously not interested in? Stay out of IT!! And let the guys who love the sport find a way to review it and make it safer. Why don't you try joining a volunteer fire company and see what it involves, the stress and pressures with very little gratitude. Instead they get a bunch of people responding to an article and tearing them apart. These guys race to relieve some of that stress instead of taking it home and out on family members. Leave them alone, get a life, and do something instead of sitting back and typing.

[take a drug test]

These guys do this because they enjoy it! Let me ask you why you post negative comments on line about something that you are obviously not interested in? Stay out of IT!! And let the guys who love the sport find a way to review it and make it safer. Why don't you try joining a volunteer fire company and see what it involves, the stress and pressures with very little gratitude. Instead they get a bunch of people responding to an article and tearing them apart. These guys race to relieve some of that stress instead of taking it home and out on family members. Leave them alone, get a life, and do something instead of sitting back and typing.

You're joking right. What stress? Please I've been in since the 1980's so don't lecture me drill temas serve NO PUROSE AT ALL? Toomuch stress then quit. In the meantime stop wasting tax money and concentrate on the job you voluteered to do.

[Elmont FD]

Carrie Solages has promised to investigate and bring the Elmont FD to the D.A.'s Office.

[Carie will Lose]

and then threaten everyone again!

[Unregist cswin]

and then threaten everyone again!

Nice call except he did not lose

[carver clown]

good news WILL cann eat pudding threw a straw !! how sad will forgotten tragdy ... have the "racing" community forgot? when 's the last time all the cool racing guys visited will ? i go to jamaica hospital he is like yesterdays news forgotten laying in bed ....ol racin (used smelly) shirts pinned on the wall . with you tube video's of racin blasting away everyone is bye bye

forgotten Heard this "hold on will hold on " sad sad very sad