On tonight's city commission agenda is the employment agreement for the Internal Auditor, Kenneth Oakes.
For services rendered under this Agreement, the City will pay Employee on the same schedule that it pays other employees, in equal payments determined by dividing One Hundred and Five Thousand Dollars ($105,000) by the number of pay periods in a calendar year. City shall also provide and pay for the costs of employee benefits that are provided and paid for any other employee within employee’s City salary range. Said salary amount may be increased by the City without opening and/or amending this Agreement and/or Section.
My only question is, why didn't you offer this same salary to highly qualified Robert Marksmeier?
As one former applicant said, "I got the feeling that the Internal Audit Plan should not contain anything of what Management desires but should contain 100% of what the Commission desires to be done. That would not be a risk based internal audit plan because the Internal Auditor would not be able to identify risk with City Management even though City Management knows where the risks are much more than a governing body would."
Showing posts with label Robert Marksmeier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Marksmeier. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Lake Worth Utility - The Black Hole
Comment Up
The City continues to put costly items on Consent Agenda for immediate approval by the city commission. It continues to send out RFP's on various purchases, sometimes without the commission's knowledge such as the RFP for an exclusive caterer at our Casino.
Tonight it is for the purchase of various three-phase pad mount transformers, single-phase pad mount distribution transformers, and overhead distribution transformers for a whopping total of $307,247 for Lake Worth Utilities.
The Motion:
1) I move to approve/disapprove the purchase from HD Supply Corporation in an amount not to exceed $151,790 for three-phase pad mount transformers, the purchase from Howard Industries in an
amount not to exceed $46,479 for pad mount distribution transformers and the purchase from HD Supply Corporation in an amount not to exceed $108,978 for overhead distribution transformers.
As the commission is ultimately responsible and is supposedly a watchdog of our money, is it not reasonable to have any expenditure over $15,000 under New Business so that there can be discussion and explanation of the expenditure? We couldn't even hire an Internal Auditor, Robert Marksmeier, whose focus was going to be on our Utility.
It's still a black hole.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Where's the Internal auditor?
Comment Up
What happened to the highly qualified internal auditor, Robert Marksmeier, that the commission voted on unanimously to hire? Back on March 20, the city commission ranked their top candidates for Internal Auditor based only on the application and resume. Later they narrowed their choices after interviews. On May 1, there was a public interview and Robert Marksmeier was chosen.
What REALLY happened?
All we know is that Vice Mayor Maxwell was the negotiator and he wouldn't budge over a $98,000 offer. Why not?Thursday, August 2, 2012
Lake Worth faulted in Billing procedures to Regional Sewer Customers
Comment Up
No surprise here--Audit finds Lake Worth had sloppy billing procedures.When Susan Stanton was hired, she soon found out that we had regional sewer customers that had not paid their bills relative to moving sewage to a regional treatment plant. We were owed in excess of $10 million and an Audit began in March 2011. Prior to Stanton, the city had swept it all under the rug.
The State Audit determined the following:
- Renewal and replacement costs were not always calculated properly
- Debt costs were not always passed through to those cities
- Supporting Documents were not always retained by staff
- Operating and maintenance costs were not always calculated correctly
- Budgets were not given to the cities for six years through September 2011
It is still unclear if we will ever re-capture money owed to the City of Lake Worth because of Staff incompetence or mis-management. Until these issues are resolved, the Sub-Regional fund does not have sufficient revenues to maintain operations--this fund's unrestricted reserves will be totally depleted in less than 2 years and the Lake Worth taxpayer will absorb the cost.
It always simply amazes me, considering we pay great salaries with great benefits that remain 70% of our fixed costs of our entire operating budget, that we get incompetence at this level. If it were not for Susan Stanton, we might never have found out that seven cities owe us $10,418,237, with a portion of that non-collectable because of basic procedures not in place.
P.S. Why didn't we hire Internal Auditor, Robert Marksmeier?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Miami is in a pickle
A 2½-year
investigation by federal authorities has concluded that the city of Miami misled investors about the city's financial health as it sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bonds dating back to 2007.
Read more...
This is why we keep harping on transparency in government. This is why we don't understand why the vice mayor could not negotiate with Robert Marksmeier, the appointee for Lake Worth internal auditor, an extremely highly qualified individual or why the negotiating process took over two months and ended up in a dead zone.
From now on, the commission needs to have a skilled negotiator when it comes to contracts.
This is why we keep harping on transparency in government. This is why we don't understand why the vice mayor could not negotiate with Robert Marksmeier, the appointee for Lake Worth internal auditor, an extremely highly qualified individual or why the negotiating process took over two months and ended up in a dead zone.
From now on, the commission needs to have a skilled negotiator when it comes to contracts.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Internal Auditor Appointee Withdraws because of stalled negotiations
Comment Up
The "negotiator," Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, flubs another one--This is very unfortunate. Mr. Marksmeier was approved 5-0 by the commission and was a position that was filled following requests from the public. It begs the question - why could terms not be agreed upon? Commissioner Maxwell negotiated the city manager's contract in a very short period of time. Commissioner Maxwell should have updated the commission if there were any issues with this important position. He did not.
From: Robert Marksmeier [robertmarksmeier@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 11:59 AM
To: Scott Maxwell; scottmaxwell1@bellsouth.net; Mark Farrington; Elaine Humphreys; bobbyma@miamidade.gov
Cc: Pam Triolo; Christopher McVoy; Suzanne Mulvehill; Andy Amoroso; Silvina Donaldson; Joni Taurosa; Sarah Fargo; Human Resources
Subject: City of Lake Worth Internal Auditor
Good morning Vice Mayor Maxwell, Mr. Farrington and Madam Attorney
Therefore at this time, I am withdrawing from the negotiations and appreciate the opportunity afforded to me. It truly has been an honor to have met each of you and the citizenry of Lake Worth.
As stated in the Lake Worth City Charter, “… an Internal Auditor is to be amongst the designated roles in the city along with the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and other such officers…”. This is an important and vital position in any organization and/or government. The Internal Auditor is an independent assurance activity designed to add-value and improve an organization’s operations, risk management, control and governance process.
I truly wish you the best in your search to fill this important position and role in protecting the city’s assets, public's interest, and government transparency.
Sincerely,
Robert Marksmeier
Friday, July 6, 2012
Where is the Internal Auditor?
Comment Up
Back on May 1, the Lake Worth City Commission voted to hire an Internal Auditor. We had to hear from the public for two years that this was an important hire. It is something that the politicos used against the former city manager when she did not put the position into the budget.
To this day, over two months later, we still do not have Robert Marksmeier in our employ. What is the stall? The citizens have the right to know. The Vice Mayor, Scott Maxwell, is the "negotiator." Does he not want an internal auditor afterall? If there is a salary range, fit all the requirements of Mr. Marksmeier into that range. Asking him to move to Lake Worth is not unreasonable. Commuting from Miami would be ridiculous.
All those people who commented on this and screamed for two years remain silent now. Let's all of us ask why the stall.
Back on May 1, the Lake Worth City Commission voted to hire an Internal Auditor. We had to hear from the public for two years that this was an important hire. It is something that the politicos used against the former city manager when she did not put the position into the budget.
To this day, over two months later, we still do not have Robert Marksmeier in our employ. What is the stall? The citizens have the right to know. The Vice Mayor, Scott Maxwell, is the "negotiator." Does he not want an internal auditor afterall? If there is a salary range, fit all the requirements of Mr. Marksmeier into that range. Asking him to move to Lake Worth is not unreasonable. Commuting from Miami would be ridiculous.
All those people who commented on this and screamed for two years remain silent now. Let's all of us ask why the stall.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Robert Marksmeier named Internal Auditor for Lake Worth
Comment Up
At long last. Over three years, we have asked and our demands were finally met...the City will hire an internal auditor. Mr. Marksmeier's interview was awesome--he's young, bright, enthusiastic, and has a sense of humor and that's something we all appreciate. The clincher was his interview and emphasizing our Electric Utility, the black hole, as an important beginning focus.
Lake Worth is lucky to have someone so credentialed in this position: He has his Master's Degree in Accounting and also one in Business and is a Certified Internal Auditor.
Vice Mayor Maxwell will be negotiating his salary. In this case, I hope the City gives Mr. Marksmeier all the incentive he needs to be successful--a high starting salary and our full support.
At long last. Over three years, we have asked and our demands were finally met...the City will hire an internal auditor. Mr. Marksmeier's interview was awesome--he's young, bright, enthusiastic, and has a sense of humor and that's something we all appreciate. The clincher was his interview and emphasizing our Electric Utility, the black hole, as an important beginning focus.
Lake Worth is lucky to have someone so credentialed in this position: He has his Master's Degree in Accounting and also one in Business and is a Certified Internal Auditor.
Vice Mayor Maxwell will be negotiating his salary. In this case, I hope the City gives Mr. Marksmeier all the incentive he needs to be successful--a high starting salary and our full support.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Internal Auditor Lake Worth
As we all cry for transparency and getting to the bottom of things, having an Internal Auditor is something that we, the citizens, have waited and wanted for several years.
Back on March 20, the city commission ranked their top candidates for Internal Auditor based only on the application and resume and then voted on accepting 5 candidates to interview: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steven Wolkomir.
The applicants for Internal Auditor were narrowed down to three with Kathleen Matthews withdrawing Friday. Prior to yesterday's public interviews that took place at City Hall before the Commission, each applicant met with each City Commissioner in a private meeting. The IA reports directly to the city commission, not the city manager. The only city employees present at yesterday's meeting were Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director and Pam Lopez, City Clerk. There were less than two handfuls of residents observing this momentous occasion, something that we all have been asking for since the position was eliminated from the Budget back in 2009.
We used to have an internal auditor and he was good. Back in September 2009, the position was not funded because of budget constraints. The Commission went along with the thinking that we had an external auditor and justified the elimination of the internal auditor position. Scot Menke, IA at that time said, "The City Commission needs to restore the independence of the internal auditor in any future internal audit services." Both of the candidates below stressed that the position was not management but independent and that the position be free from politics.
29 years as an internal auditor--
school districts, Citizens Property Insurance
and for various cities.
BA in Accounting, CPA, Member of IIA, ALGA
and other professional groups.
He is well experienced in internal auditor start-ups
and describes himself as a generalist.
Gives objective and constructive appraisals and mentioned
auditor accountability and independence.
Used to working with politicians in his career.
He was ranked in the top 5 by all 5 commissioners
thus getting on the short list of consideration.
Senior Auditor and advisor Miami/Dade County for 11 years--
was involved in the GSA investigation audit.
BA, MBA, is a Certified Internal Auditor & candidate for CPA.
Has CIA, CGAP, designations as well as other professional affiliations.
Utilities would be his number one priority.
Says we need the right structure and the IA needs to be transparent
and independent of politics. His job must be objective.
Would involve the entire commission and the citizenry.
Does not want the department set-up to fail.
Based on his submitted resume,
originally ranked in top 5 by 3 commissioners.
Back on March 20, the city commission ranked their top candidates for Internal Auditor based only on the application and resume and then voted on accepting 5 candidates to interview: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steven Wolkomir.
The applicants for Internal Auditor were narrowed down to three with Kathleen Matthews withdrawing Friday. Prior to yesterday's public interviews that took place at City Hall before the Commission, each applicant met with each City Commissioner in a private meeting. The IA reports directly to the city commission, not the city manager. The only city employees present at yesterday's meeting were Mark Farrington, Human Resource Director and Pam Lopez, City Clerk. There were less than two handfuls of residents observing this momentous occasion, something that we all have been asking for since the position was eliminated from the Budget back in 2009.
We used to have an internal auditor and he was good. Back in September 2009, the position was not funded because of budget constraints. The Commission went along with the thinking that we had an external auditor and justified the elimination of the internal auditor position. Scot Menke, IA at that time said, "The City Commission needs to restore the independence of the internal auditor in any future internal audit services." Both of the candidates below stressed that the position was not management but independent and that the position be free from politics.
Steven Wolkomir
29 years as an internal auditor--school districts, Citizens Property Insurance
and for various cities.
BA in Accounting, CPA, Member of IIA, ALGA
and other professional groups.
He is well experienced in internal auditor start-ups
and describes himself as a generalist.
Gives objective and constructive appraisals and mentioned
auditor accountability and independence.
Used to working with politicians in his career.
He was ranked in the top 5 by all 5 commissioners
thus getting on the short list of consideration.
Robert Marksmeier
Senior Auditor and advisor Miami/Dade County for 11 years--was involved in the GSA investigation audit.
BA, MBA, is a Certified Internal Auditor & candidate for CPA.
Has CIA, CGAP, designations as well as other professional affiliations.
Utilities would be his number one priority.
Says we need the right structure and the IA needs to be transparent
and independent of politics. His job must be objective.
Would involve the entire commission and the citizenry.
Does not want the department set-up to fail.
Based on his submitted resume,
originally ranked in top 5 by 3 commissioners.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
In Lake Worth
Comment Up
Last night started out with the raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall and a proclamation read by the Mayor. The flag is raised annually in anticipation of PrideFest of the Palm Beaches, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered pride event that takes place in March at Bryant Park in Lake Worth. Pridefest benefits Compass, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches. This year it is on March 24 & 25. The parade is on Sunday and it is "something" to witness.
Although the GLBT community says that the organization's mission is to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the GLBT community, they put on a parade that is in many instances less than dignified. While gays demand respect, they then try to reason with everyone's senses for fairness and tolerance by acting outlandishly during a parade. They just don't see how this might diminish their cause.
Lake Worth's commission meeting was cordial. No wise guy statements from the dais, Even the back row refrained from heckling. Perhaps the calming effect was our newly appointed city manager who was sitting in the back row for the meeting. The entire commission was in agreement with everything other than sunsetting the Community Relations Board. Personally, I never have thought we needed that Board. It brought three times the problems than it ever solved. And the problems did not start with Panagioti Tsolkos.
Stan Szczygiel, Manager of Rates & Planning for Aqua America Utilities flew in from Pennsylvania for the occasion as Aqua was seeking a bulk rate from Lake Worth and a thirty year contract. They should have a bulk rate as the infrastructure belongs to them, something we do not have to service. They have been buying water at a residential rate since inception but why are they treated differently than another bulk rate customer such as Lake Clark Shores? A bulk rate would cost us $150,000 a year with very little rate reduction to the residents of Lake Osborne Estates who pay Aqua Utilities for water as the rate when passed through would be divided between 10,000 Aqua customers, not the 457 in the Osborne neighborhood. It doesn't hurt them to ask but there is no benefit to Lake Worth to comply. They need our water and Lake Worth has spent a small fortune to produce the best water in south Florida. Ain't it a bitch to be in the driver's seat? This item will be coming back in a workshop.
The Commission arrived at 5 top candidates for Internal Auditor, something the new commission promised and something they will deliver. This is a positive. I still would rather see this position as an independent contractor in order to eliminate the benefit package. The final candidates are: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steve Wolkomir. Interviews will be scheduled similar to the city manager process. The internal auditor reports to the Commission, not to the city manager.
Last night started out with the raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall and a proclamation read by the Mayor. The flag is raised annually in anticipation of PrideFest of the Palm Beaches, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered pride event that takes place in March at Bryant Park in Lake Worth. Pridefest benefits Compass, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches. This year it is on March 24 & 25. The parade is on Sunday and it is "something" to witness.
Although the GLBT community says that the organization's mission is to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the GLBT community, they put on a parade that is in many instances less than dignified. While gays demand respect, they then try to reason with everyone's senses for fairness and tolerance by acting outlandishly during a parade. They just don't see how this might diminish their cause.
Lake Worth's commission meeting was cordial. No wise guy statements from the dais, Even the back row refrained from heckling. Perhaps the calming effect was our newly appointed city manager who was sitting in the back row for the meeting. The entire commission was in agreement with everything other than sunsetting the Community Relations Board. Personally, I never have thought we needed that Board. It brought three times the problems than it ever solved. And the problems did not start with Panagioti Tsolkos.
Stan Szczygiel, Manager of Rates & Planning for Aqua America Utilities flew in from Pennsylvania for the occasion as Aqua was seeking a bulk rate from Lake Worth and a thirty year contract. They should have a bulk rate as the infrastructure belongs to them, something we do not have to service. They have been buying water at a residential rate since inception but why are they treated differently than another bulk rate customer such as Lake Clark Shores? A bulk rate would cost us $150,000 a year with very little rate reduction to the residents of Lake Osborne Estates who pay Aqua Utilities for water as the rate when passed through would be divided between 10,000 Aqua customers, not the 457 in the Osborne neighborhood. It doesn't hurt them to ask but there is no benefit to Lake Worth to comply. They need our water and Lake Worth has spent a small fortune to produce the best water in south Florida. Ain't it a bitch to be in the driver's seat? This item will be coming back in a workshop.
The Commission arrived at 5 top candidates for Internal Auditor, something the new commission promised and something they will deliver. This is a positive. I still would rather see this position as an independent contractor in order to eliminate the benefit package. The final candidates are: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steve Wolkomir. Interviews will be scheduled similar to the city manager process. The internal auditor reports to the Commission, not to the city manager.
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