Receivership reports hires, audit backlog and EMS contract; next MRAC meeting set for May 27

At the May 13 MRAC meeting, Receiver Michael Dowry reviewed non-legal items on his agenda: staffing, audits and emergency medical service coverage.

Dowry said he had announced his resignation and remains working through priorities before leaving. He announced a recent hire: “Miss Nona Watson comes to the city with tons of experience,” naming her as the newly appointed community and economic development director. Dowry said his team will continue efforts to fill an emergency management services coordinator position that has been hard to recruit for.

On audits, Dowry said the city is still working on the 2021 audit and that because multiple years are open the finance office is effectively handling several years of financial statements at once; he said the 2021 audit draft had been sent for peer review and that closing audits in a timely manner remains a critical need.

Dowry and others credited progress on EMS after Crozer Hospital’s bankruptcy and expected closure: the city secured a contract with VMSC for ambulance service, which Dowry said “checks that box” for having EMS service in place while acknowledging transport times and hospital access still need improvement.

Mayor Stefan Roots and other committee members praised the receivership team’s work on staffing and contracting, with the mayor saying the receivership’s work justified its cost in advancing city operations. The meeting closed with scheduling details: the MRAC’s next meeting is May 27 at 1 p.m.