Committee forwards favorable recommendation to reappoint Cambridge city auditor Joseph McCann

The Cambridge City Government Operations and Claims Committee voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the full City Council to reappoint Joseph McCann as city auditor after a public review of his three-year tenure and the office’s responsibilities.

Committee members questioned McCann about day-to-day operations, staffing and planned upgrades to accounts-payable systems. McCann described an office responsible for weekly bill payments, financial reporting and oversight of payroll and school department payments, and said the department is pursuing automation and federal clean-energy tax credits.

The recommendation matters because the city auditor is one of three officials appointed by the council and provides independent financial oversight of city accounting, payments and annual financial reporting. The committee’s favorable recommendation advances McCann’s reappointment to a full council vote.

McCann told the committee that accounts payable and financial reporting are the principal duties of the audit office. "There are presently three senior clerks within the department," he said, and added that three degreed accountants plus a deputy handle journal entries and the audited financial statements. He said the office also relies on two part-time retirees and that one financial-reporting position has been vacant for several years.

On modernization, McCann described an effort to reduce manual data entry in PeopleSoft by expanding electronic submission of invoices. "We're working to try to implement a system that they can key in all that information," he said of efforts to move handwritten school department referee payments and other paper-based submissions online. He said automation should reduce rekeying and speed processing.

McCann also said the audit office applied for roughly $500,000 in federal tax credits tied to electric-vehicle and renewable-energy projects. On the amount the city might receive for vehicle purchases at the Samad Building, he said an estimate "might be about a hundred thousand for the six vehicles" but added he could be wrong.

Council members asked whether the auditor’s office performs performance audits. McCann said the office lacks the staff for detailed program performance audits and that the city typically contracts outside firms for such work. "It would be difficult just due to basically lack of resources," he said.

Several council members raised vendor-payment timing and check security. McCann said the city generally tries to pay bills within two pay cycles and that delays can stem from late submissions, multi-step departmental approvals, staffing shortages or lost paper checks. Mayor Simmons noted a recent incident of a "check wash" in which a stolen, altered check was cashed and praised staff for catching it.

On a motion by Councilor Toner, the committee voted to forward McCann’s reappointment to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. The roll call recorded Vice Mayor McGovern, Councilor Sabrina Wheeler, Councilor Toner and Councilor Zuzi voting yes; Councilor Azim was absent. Mayor Simmons said he would have voted yes if he had a vote.

The committee meeting record indicates the recommendation will be placed on the full City Council agenda for final action.