Residents press Amherst board for remediation details after comptroller audits cite payment and IT deficiencies

Several residents used the public comment period to press the Amherst Town Board for specific updates after twin New York State Comptroller reports this summer, which the audience said identified problems in employee separation payments, stipends and IT controls.

"When will the Amherst Town board provide an audit issue remediation status update?" asked David Kuzniewski, noting there are five significant operational issues between the two reports. Beau Schickling, a retired CPA, told the board auditors found discrepancies in separation payments and stipends that, in one year, exceeded $500,000: "The amounts associated with these discrepancies during just this 1 year period exceeded $500,000." Julie Van Lenti said another audit finding identified about $1,300,000 in apparently unauthorized employee payments and asked whether the town would seek recovery.

Supervisor Lavin acknowledged receipt of a draft audit and said the town has been acting since January. He said the town received a draft in April and the public report was published about a month before the meeting; he described steps the board has taken, including writing formal policy and moving to a timekeeping system. Board remarks emphasized that many findings reflected missing documentation rather than disappearing funds and that the town is implementing policies to strengthen controls and IT safeguards.

Residents asked for a remediation timeline and clarity about whether the town will pursue recovery of funds where payments were unauthorized; the board said personnel policy changes and systems updates are in process but did not provide a specific recovery timetable at the meeting.