By Steve Plunkett
The Palm Beach County inspector general has mildly rebuked town officials’ record-keeping in two complaints about the Lantana Nature Preserve but dismissed two other complaints for lack of evidence.
In a 49-page investigative report issued in April, the Office of Inspector General said it opened an investigation in 2022 after receiving complaints from an unnamed town council member and from resident Media Beverly.
Specifically, the office investigated whether the town improperly dissolved the Lantana Nature Preserve in 2016, whether it inappropriately used funds received earmarked for the preserve from The Carlisle assisted congregate living facility, whether it hired a contractor without making sure that the contractor had registered with the town or had insurance, and whether it made sure the contractor obtained a permit before removing a protected gumbo limbo from the preserve or the tree was replaced.
The upscale Carlisle next door makes an annual payment to the town of at least $40,000 with yearly adjustments to maintain the preserve.
Investigators for the inspector general looked at numbers from fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and decided there was not sufficient documentation for $32,000 spent on maintenance each year, labeling the total $64,000 as “questioned costs.”
Deborah Manzo, town manager in those years, told them “that she calculated indirect costs based on information provided to her about staff time and equipment used.”
Eddie Crockett, the town’s public services director, told investigators the $64,000 represented “non-itemized or administrative” costs of maintaining the Nature Preserve.
The report concluded that the allegation that funds from The Carlisle were inappropriately used was “partially supported.”
Investigators also could partially support the allegation about contractor Ask Russ LLC registering with the town before doing landscaping work at the preserve and having the proper insurance.
“The OIG found no evidence that Ask Russ registered with the town as required, but the OIG did not identify a town policy or procedure requiring specific insurance for this work,” the report said.
After reviewing town ordinances and interviewing Manzo and Mary Lacorazza, a former member of the Lantana Nature Preserve Commission, investigators concluded that they could not support the allegation that the preserve commission was improperly dissolved.
Similarly, they could not confirm that Ask Russ needed to pull a permit to remove the gumbo limbo tree. Crockett sent the inspector general photos of the tree “after it was blown over during a storm,” the report said.
“This activity (removing a broken tree from blocking the walking trail) did not require certification from an Arborist and therefore did not violate an ordinance,” Crockett wrote the office.
In the end the OIG recommended that the town:
• Establish a dedicated accounting structure for the Nature Preserve so that all related revenues and expenditures are recorded and tracked together.
• Verify and document, before contract execution and before the work begins, that all hired contractors be properly insured in accordance with applicable town ordinances, and that the documentation of these actions be retained.
• Adopt written policies and procedures requiring contractors performing tree trimming, tree removal or related work in the Nature Preserve to maintain adequate insurance coverage in an amount specified by the town before work begins and throughout the contract term.
In a May 5 response, current Town Manager Brian Raducci said the town concurred with all three recommendations and would take steps to implement them.
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