What Do You Think of the Audit Committee?

The East Hampton Town Board has to establish an audit committee, on recommendation from the New York State Comptroller and the Government Finance Officers Association.

However, the resolution to establish the committee and appoint members failed, 2-2, as Councilman Dominick Stanzione was not there to break the tie during Thursday night's meeting.

It wasn't the idea of having an audit committee that Councilwoman Sylvia Overby and Councilman Peter Van Socyoc voted against it, but rather that they requested more time to discuss the committee members.

"An audit committee helps to preserve and enhance the objectivity and independence of the financial statement audit by furnishing a forum in which the independent auditors can candidly discuss audit-related matters with members of the governing board," the resolution read.

The committee would have been comprised of Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, as chair, Councilwoman Theresa Quigley, and town residents Stanley Arkin, of Amagansett, add Carole Campolo, of Springs. Ex-officio members would be town budget officer Len Bernard, chief auditor Charlene Kagel, and assistant town attorney Patrick Gunn.

During Thursday night's meeting, Rona Klopman questioned why two members of the Republican party were being appointed to the committee. Wilkinson and Quigley are also Republicans.

Campolo is also an officer in the East Hampton Republican Party, as she is currently the secretary. Wilkinson said Campolo has agreed to resign that post if she is appointed to the committee.

The town supervisor would recommend the re-appointment of the committee members during the town's organizational meeting each year.

So we were wondering, what do you think? Would you like to see more people on the committee? From different parties? Or do you think it is just fine the way the resolution was presented? Tell us in the comments section below.