Clean Water Services proposes independent audit committee; bylaws, applications set this spring

Kathy Leader, chief financial officer for Clean Water Services, told the Washington County Board of Commissioners during a Jan. 16 work session that Clean Water Services plans to form an independent audit committee to provide oversight of the utility’s accounting, reporting and internal controls and to serve as a liaison among the board, management and external auditors.

The audit committee, Leader said, would "be the board's agent in assuring the independence of Clean Water Services' external auditors, the integrity of management, and the adequacy of disclosure." She said the committee would meet twice a year — once before auditors begin interim field work and once after the audit is completed to review findings and management responses.

Why it matters: Clean Water Services participates in Washington County’s audit committee now, but staff said the county-wide committee covers…