Last time we looked at a recent audit report released by the State Comptroller. Here is another section of the report, regarding the Miscellaneous Category:
Miscellaneous – GML authorizes a service award program to provide points for
“miscellaneous activities,” with one point per activity (up to a maximum of 15
points). For this purpose, GML defines “miscellaneous activities” as “participation
in inspections and other activities covered by the volunteer firefighters’ benefit
law and not otherwise listed.” The District’s system awards points for certain
miscellaneous activities such as parades, particular fundraising events or
funerals to a maximum of 15 points. However, Board resolutions dated 2014 and
2015 include awards of five points each for additional miscellaneous activities
such as probationary firefighter coordinator and various fundraising committee
positions such as the chairperson of bazaars, boot drives, letter campaigns,
raffles and 10K/5K runs. Providing five points for such “miscellaneous activity” is
not consistent with GML, which, as previously noted, permits only one point per
miscellaneous activity.
The thing to note here is that the OSC doesn’t criticize the District for treating the probationary firefighter coordinator and committee positions as a “miscellaneous activity” – rather, that the District awarded five points for these activities. This seems to imply that the OSC is fine with a District awarding points to individuals acting as the chairperson of a committee. A District just cannot award more than one point to the chairperson. It has been generally understood that attending a committee meeting would be worth a point, but it wasn’t clear if granting a point just for being a committee member or the chairperson would be acceptable. It would seem that it is – at least, this wasn’t criticized in the report.
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