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The Saratogian Newsroom blog, complete with thoughts and commentary from our newsroom staff and regular posts on happenings around town.

Monday, October 8

Coming Soon! SSHA Audit

Sources who couldn't speak on the record say the Comptroller's audit of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority will be out this fall, not, as some people have suggested, years from now.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said it would come out some time in the fall, but many people questioned whether that would actually happen, particularly given the years it took for the audit of the Troy Housing Authority.

But I'm told the draft report has already been completed and submitted to the board for review. They were given some amount of time (some time between 30 and 60 days) to turn it around with any comments they would like to add or criticisms they would like to lodge.

I've been trying to get that information on the record for print, but Chairman Eric Weller has not been available (or his phone has been out of commission, as it is starting to seem) for about a week now.

I have only second-hand information on the contents of the report, but I'm told it doesn't address the relationship between the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group and the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority.

Again, that information is not confirmed, but if true, it would seem to have missed a big issue. The "volunteers" from the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority — the SSHA facilities manager, accountant, executive director and others — who all wrote letters saying they only worked off-the-clock on SAHG business was concerning to many.

Also concerning was the potential for co-mingling of funds between the two groups. Of course, authorities at the Authority say that wasn't happening, but the fact that former Chairman Dennis Brunelle justified Ed Spychalski's $150+ taxpayer-funded salary, in part, based on his work with the non-profit SAHG raises some serious questions.

Obviously we'll have to wait and see what the Comptroller's report says, but if that relationship isn't addressed (as DiNapoli said it would be when he came into The Saratogian to discuss some of the issues) I think they may need to do another.

But again, the fact that it isn't included is inconclusive, as I haven't seen the report itself. 

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2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lucian, I thought you didn't print anything without proof! How can you speculate on hearsay what is and isn't in the SSHA audit! Obviously, your source is someone who really dosen't have a clue, otherwise it would be front page. Speaking of not printing allegations where's all the coverage of the Franck gate. Sounds like it is getting really out of hand, and you will be left holding it in your hand. Oh, that's right you have already been caught with it in your hand. By the way how did you get info regarding the audit? When I contacted the comptrollers office I was told it was confidential. Maybe grounds for someone to be removed for disclosing confidential information? Maybe you should be given a subpoena to give up your board source.

October 8, 2012 at 8:13 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's easy! Ken Ivins is Franck's puppet. He was the one that probably did. He is the one that since being on he Housing Board has ran back to Franck with any info. He and Franck are the reason no one trusts their judgement. They are the reason the employees at the Housing Authority file to organize union. They are the reason the city Tech department was compaining when Ivins was on the council that he used their technicians to help with his consulting business. Which Ivins was working for Franck at the time. that's right you didn't know that Franck never disclosed Ivins and he had work relationship(Ivins on Francks payroll)while Ivins was council member.

October 9, 2012 at 12:30 PM 

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