By James Lomuscio
Contrary to a report from the town’s internal auditor, Westport’s Board of Education chairwoman insists her board did inform Board of Finance members two years ago about cost overruns for the mold removal project at Kings Highway Elementary School.
Elaine Whitney: Board of Education “is very concerned.” Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
It’s just that the school board had been kept in the dark about the amount of these overruns—$1.65 million—by Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, says Elaine Whitney, board chairwoman.
“The Board of Education is very concerned that the administration did not disclose the magnitude of the cost overruns to the BOE, the BOF, the RTM (Representative Town Meeting) or the public in a timely and transparent manner,” Whitney said in an email to WestportNow.
According to Lynn Scully, internal auditor, more than $4.52 million was spent on the project that ran from 2007 though fiscal year 2013-14, but only $2.87 million had been approved—a $1.65 million overrun the schools managed via transfers within its own budget.
The overrun was due to the fact lead was found in the school, requiring the hiring of a lead abatement contractor, plus arbitration and legal fees, Scully said. She explained the schools transferred the cost increases from its electricity and natural gas accounts to its building maintenance account.
“There was no communication with the town regarding these capital expenditures,” Scully told finance board members last week.
According to Whitney, that statement is not accurate. She cited a school board executive executive session held on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 8 a.m. in Town Hall Room 307.
“The topic was pending litigation,” Whitney said. “Some members of the BOE and BOF attended in person, and others participated by phone.”
Whitney added that at its Aug. 25, 2014 meeting, the school board also discussed capital project reporting and the Kings Highway School, and that further discussion will be on the agenda at tonight’s school board meeting.
Scully, however, insists the finance board was not informed about the overruns. She reserved further comment.
Her argument is supported by comments from Michael Rea, finance board member. Rea expressed surprise and concern when he grilled Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon at last week’s meeting.
“Did it not come to your mind that the town’s funding body should be informed?” Rea asked Landon. “You were dealing with a crisis, and we wind up in a situation that is embarrassing that tax dollars are spent without proper authorization.”
Landon responded that “we never asked for additional funds, and we protected our children.”
“The public has right to know how we spend our tax dollars,” Rea shot back. ” …It was a large sum of money.”
Landon said that such transfers without notification would not happen again.
“I would not do it again,” he said.
According to Whitney, the school board, too, was unaware about the amount of the overrun.
Asked to elaborate, Whitney stated in a subsequent email that Landon did not disclose to her board “the full extent of those costs.”
“The Board of Education and the public were informed by the superintendent over the course of the project that there were unanticipated costs,” Whitney said.
“However, the full extent of those costs was significantly greater than initially anticipated and was not communicated to the BOE, BOF, RTM or public in a timely and transparent manner.”
Whitney noted that state law requires that the school board approve transfers “across major budget categories and the associated annual financial reports.”
“However, many of these transfers occurred within major categories, not across them,” she said, empowering Landon to make the transfers independent of the school board.
For transparency, capital project reporting will be discussed tonight, she added.
I think its time for Mr. Landon to be retired. This is INEXCUSABLE. An apology is not enough. Perhaps his salary can cover these cost over runs that were not disclosed.
This imbroglio brings to mind what then-Sen. Howard Baker said during the Watergate investigation: “What did the President know and when did he know it.” For “president,” substitute any appropriate noun.
The broader problem is that well-respected organizations, like the Westport school system, often assume that this respect means they can do what they want and disregard public opinion. Call it what you like; I call it institutional arrogance, also know as chutzpah
It also brings to mind what Senator Everett Dirkson may or may not have said: ” A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.”