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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-May 14, 2020 VAWCITYOF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES VIRTUAL AUDIT WORKSHOP Thursday, May 14, 2020 3:00 P.M. 1. WELCOME/OPENING REMARKS: Mayor Matthew Pigatt called the Virtual Workshop to order at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, issued by the office of the Governor Ron DeSantis on March 20, 2020, municipalities may conduct meetings of their governing boards without having a quorum of its members present physically or at any specific location, and utilizing communications media technology such as telephonic or video conferencing, as provided by Section 120.54(5)(b)2, Florida Statutes. An opportunity was given to the public to email the City Clerk prior to the Commission Meeting with any questions/comments/concerns on items we will hear on this evening's Regular Commission Meeting agenda. This meeting is being streamed live at https://www.youtube. com/user/CityofOpalocka. Since this is a virtual meeting as authorized by the Governor of the state of Florida, again, members of the public wishing to address the commission have been offered the opportunity to do so. Public comments will be included as part of the public record for this virtual meeting and will be considered by the City commission prior to any action taken. 2. ROLL CALL: The members of the City Commission appearing remotely were: Mayor Matthew Pigatt, Vice Mayor Chris Davis, Commissioner Sherelean Bass, Commissioner Alvin Burke, and Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley. Also appearing remotely were: City Attorney Burnadette Norris - Weeks, City Manager John E. Pate, and City Clerk Joanna Flores. 3. INVOCATION: The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Sherelean Bass. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Police Chief Dobson and recited in unison. 1 Virtual Audit Workshop Minutes — 05/14/2020 5. PUBLIC INPUT: City Clerk Flores stated the protocols for public participation and virtual meetings. There were no public comments. 6. PRESENTATION BY ANTHONY BRUNSON, P.A.: City of Opa-locka Financial Audit for Fiscal Year 2018 Mayor Pigatt requested City Manager Pate to introduce the agenda item. City Manager Pate stated the purpose of the meeting was to review the audit findings and to respond to any questions the commission may have. He introduced Mr. Anthony Brunson. Anthony Brunson of Anthony Brunson, P.A. shared his screen to provide an overview of the City of Opa-locka Financial Audit Report for Fiscal Year ending 2018. He stated that the audit report was submitted to the City and its staff. The scope of the audit was to be sure the financial statements were fairly stated and free from any material error or fraud as a result of his work. The audit shows all of the financial disclosures were consistent with what is required in the industry. He strongly suggested the City perform a physical inventory of its assets. He explained there was an attachment with the audit adjustments, and it showed there were about 150 audit adjustments, which is a significant amount. He went on to share the internal control comments in the report, which were compared to 2017's financial audit. He stated there was no concern of fraud being committed and recommended updating the financial policy manual. To avoid fraud, he suggested getting third party approval of any journal entry prior to having a City financial clerk entering records. Gerri Lazarre, Financial Consultant for the city explained that the major reason for the change in revenues of the City in the years 2017 and 2018 had to do with the fact that funds were withheld by the State due to a freeze from not having audits on time. 7. DISCUSSION / QUESTION & ANSWERS: Vice Mayor Davis inquired as to whether this was a qualified audit. Mr. Brunson stated the opinion was that it is qualified due to the physical assets. There has not been a physical inventory of the assets done in a few years and in order to lift the qualification, a physical inventory of the assets must be performed. 2 Virtual Audit Workshop Minutes — 05/14/2020 Commissioner Burke also recognized the importance of physical assets inventory. Commissioner Bass shared her gratitude towards the job performed so far, and encouraged the team to continue to move forward. Mayor Pigatt shared the concerns and gratitude of the commissioners. He acknowledged the advice from the financial firm that having a finance department is important for the City to be effective in managing its finances. He emphasized the difficulty of the circumstances in the City in regards to the financial crisis it is overcoming and he embraced the recommendations of Mr. Brunson and his team to be implemented in the finance department in the coming years. City Manager Pate commended the finance firm for the work performed. He acknowledged the recommendations provided by Mr. Brunson. He further stated that an independent impartial physical inventory audit will be performed in the near future. 8. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by Vice Mayor Davis, seconded by Commissioner Burke to adjourn the meeting at 3:56 p.m. Matthew A. Pigatt Mayor ATTEST: 1 a Flores CI Clerk 3 Virtual Audit Workshop Minutes — 05/14/2020