Charles Fardts

[FOTD]

Public works audit angers councilors

Public works audit angers councilors

IN THE HOT SEAT
Public Works Director Charles Hardt: "If you really want to know whether we did something wrong, I think you need to hire a head hunter or a witch hunter and get on with it."
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=20080605_16_A11_hSomet79213

lots to play hide and seek with.....


The devil caught him several times saying one thing, doing another.....even caught him burying evidence once.....ooops, it wasn't his fault, er mismanagement.

I like Mr. Hardt. He did a great job on flood control. One of the best hydrologists in this country. But a hydrologist is not necessarily a good bureaucrat. He failed as head of Public Works. Just look at our streets. Sorry Charlie.


Cronie city hall.....




By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
6/5/2008
Last Modified: 6/5/2008  3:00 AM


Some think it should be conducted independently of the city department.


Some city councilors are taking issue with a planned Public Works Department audit because it's going to be a self audit under the guidance of the American Public Works Association.

An independent audit might be appropriate, they suggested, particularly in light of the $2 billion streets program being put together.

"I disagree with us calling this an audit," Councilor G.T. Bynum said during this week's committee meetings. "In my opinion, an audit necessitates some form of independence.

"I think what's planned will have great benefit, but I do think we need an independent audit of the Public Works Department."

Councilor Jack Henderson said that over the years he's been in office, many people have called for a public works audit.

"But I know this isn't what they had in mind," he said.

Included in the upcoming fiscal year's budget is about $25,000 for the city to enter into a contract with the American Public Works Association, which is the industry group that sets standards and policies.

The self audit will start in July and last about a year, with the organization's representatives on site to oversee the process.

The areas to be examined include service delivery, effectiveness and accountability, management and administration, teamwork, staff pride, interdepartmental coordination and planning for the future.

A public survey is expected to be a component.

Public Works Director Charles Hardt said: "The beauty of this is it will compare us to other communities in providing the same services. I think this is the best approach."

The process is a precursor to an accreditation that the department hopes to eventually attain, he said.

Hardt grew somewhat defensive with the talk of an independent audit.

"If you want an audit that looks at the books and financial transactions, that's not what this is," he said.

"This is more of a performance audit that looks at how we deliver service, whether we're effective and whether there are ways we can improve.

"But if you really want to know whether we did something wrong, I think you need to hire a head hunter or a witch hunter and get on with it."

Bynum said he doesn't think an independent audit should be viewed as something to expose "any perceived wrongdoings."

"I simply think there would be some value in it," he said.

Hardt said he's been through such audits before that were wastes of time.

"I've found that you have auditors who have no knowledge or understanding of what the engineering world does and no clue as to what our objectives are," he said.

"This is a far more meaningful process than having an audit firm that doesn't understand one thing about constructing something but tells us how we should have done it. That's awfully irritating."

A member of the city Auditor's Office stepped forward during the meeting and suggested that the process should be called a quality assurance review, rather than an audit.

Councilor Bill Martinson, an accountant, said he's been part of independent auditing teams before.

"You come in, bayonet the wounded and tell them what they should have done differently," he said.

Martinson said the process planned "is about getting better. We need to keep our eye on that ball."

Councilor Rick Westcott referenced the $2 billion streets plan that the city is planning to send to voters this summer.

"We're about to ask the citizens for a boatload of money," he said.

"Whatever label you want to put on it, I think it's wise to go thorough a process to make sure we're operating as efficiently as possible, spending tax dollars in the best way possible and prioritizing projects appropriately."

[Kenosha]

Stay classy FOTD.

quote:Originally posted by FOTD



Public works audit angers councilors

Public works audit angers councilors

IN THE HOT SEAT
Public Works Director Charles Hardt: "If you really want to know whether we did something wrong, I think you need to hire a head hunter or a witch hunter and get on with it."
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=20080605_16_A11_hSomet79213

lots to play hide and seek with.....


The devil caught him several times saying one thing, doing another.....even caught him burying evidence once.....ooops, it wasn't his fault, er mismanagement.

I like Mr. Hardt. He did a great job on flood control. One of the best hydrologists in this country. But a hydrologist is not necessarily a good bureaucrat. He failed as head of Public Works. Just look at our streets. Sorry Charlie.


Cronie city hall.....




By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
6/5/2008
Last Modified: 6/5/2008  3:00 AM


Some think it should be conducted independently of the city department.


Some city councilors are taking issue with a planned Public Works Department audit because it's going to be a self audit under the guidance of the American Public Works Association.

An independent audit might be appropriate, they suggested, particularly in light of the $2 billion streets program being put together.

"I disagree with us calling this an audit," Councilor G.T. Bynum said during this week's committee meetings. "In my opinion, an audit necessitates some form of independence.

"I think what's planned will have great benefit, but I do think we need an independent audit of the Public Works Department."

Councilor Jack Henderson said that over the years he's been in office, many people have called for a public works audit.

"But I know this isn't what they had in mind," he said.

Included in the upcoming fiscal year's budget is about $25,000 for the city to enter into a contract with the American Public Works Association, which is the industry group that sets standards and policies.

The self audit will start in July and last about a year, with the organization's representatives on site to oversee the process.

The areas to be examined include service delivery, effectiveness and accountability, management and administration, teamwork, staff pride, interdepartmental coordination and planning for the future.

A public survey is expected to be a component.

Public Works Director Charles Hardt said: "The beauty of this is it will compare us to other communities in providing the same services. I think this is the best approach."

The process is a precursor to an accreditation that the department hopes to eventually attain, he said.

Hardt grew somewhat defensive with the talk of an independent audit.

"If you want an audit that looks at the books and financial transactions, that's not what this is," he said.

"This is more of a performance audit that looks at how we deliver service, whether we're effective and whether there are ways we can improve.

"But if you really want to know whether we did something wrong, I think you need to hire a head hunter or a witch hunter and get on with it."

Bynum said he doesn't think an independent audit should be viewed as something to expose "any perceived wrongdoings."

"I simply think there would be some value in it," he said.

Hardt said he's been through such audits before that were wastes of time.

"I've found that you have auditors who have no knowledge or understanding of what the engineering world does and no clue as to what our objectives are," he said.

"This is a far more meaningful process than having an audit firm that doesn't understand one thing about constructing something but tells us how we should have done it. That's awfully irritating."

A member of the city Auditor's Office stepped forward during the meeting and suggested that the process should be called a quality assurance review, rather than an audit.

Councilor Bill Martinson, an accountant, said he's been part of independent auditing teams before.

"You come in, bayonet the wounded and tell them what they should have done differently," he said.

Martinson said the process planned "is about getting better. We need to keep our eye on that ball."

Councilor Rick Westcott referenced the $2 billion streets plan that the city is planning to send to voters this summer.

"We're about to ask the citizens for a boatload of money," he said.

"Whatever label you want to put on it, I think it's wise to go thorough a process to make sure we're operating as efficiently as possible, spending tax dollars in the best way possible and prioritizing projects appropriately."

[Wrinkle]

Think he lost me altogether on the east tulsa development he politically killed just to affect Council elections. Though, I've heard from others this is pretty typical at all upper levels of public works.

Not supposed to be a political position, and they certainly pay him enough not to take graft. So, seems mostly a power trip.

REF: MeeCiteeWurkor article of 12/31/2005