By Dan Moffett
After receiving the results of an inspector general’s audit in February, Manalapan is moving forward with 21 recommended changes to tighten billing procedures and improve the internal controls of the town’s water utility department.
Palm Beach County’s Inspector General Office examined the utility’s operation during the 2016 fiscal year and cited seven findings that could use corrective action from the town.
The draft audit found no serious problems, but rather housekeeping and enforcement issues that were hurting the utility’s performance or preventing the town from technically “complying with its ordinances and resolutions.”
Town Attorney Keith Davis, in a written response to the Inspector General’s Office, said the town already has implemented most of the proposed changes — even though the town’s “current system is working properly.”
Manalapan has satisfied some of the report’s concerns, he said, by retraining personnel.
Town Manager Linda Stumpf said the town is taking a more aggressive approach to deal with homeowners who aren’t complying with the utility’s rules, one of the complaints in the audit. Out of 253 residences, about 20 water customers still haven’t had backflows inspected and approved. Backflow valves prevent waste water from reversing direction and contaminating drinking water.
“They’ll all get letters saying they have between a 60- and 90-day time frame to get their backflows repaired or inspected, otherwise their water will be turned off,” Stumpf told the Town Commission during its meeting Feb. 27. “That’s the only option I have at this point.”
Davis said in his response that most of the issues cited were commonly seen, minor and easily remedied.
“The findings in the draft report are not outside the realm of normal or typical findings when this type of audit is conducted,” the attorney wrote, “and they are meant to make a good process even better.”
In other business:
• As part of its plan to expand its Police Department, Manalapan is considering partnering with the town of Palm Beach for dispatching and crime scene investigation services.
Police Chief Carmen Mattox said that, because of similar demographics, Palm Beach and Manalapan share many of the same crime problems and it makes sense for them to work together.
“I think Palm Beach is a very professional agency,” Mattox said. “And they have a very outstanding dispatch center.”
The chief said the Palm Beach department has crime scene specialists on hand who could come in quickly and help Manalapan with investigations.
“The other advantage is the information sharing that would be instantaneous,” Mattox said. “We’d be on their radio.”
The chief also said he’s making progress toward screening applicants to fill four new police officer positions. Mayor Keith Waters announced a roughly $420,000 expansion for the department in January after a spate of car thefts.
Stumpf said Stewart Satter, a resident on Manalapan’s ocean side, had sent the town a check for just over $51,000 to the cover the cost of a new Ford Explorer for police. Satter promised to buy the SUV after hearing Waters’ plan.
• Because of inquiries from Point Manalapan, the town will begin surveying residents informally on the possibility of bringing in natural gas service. Three years ago, a straw poll of the 144 residents on the point voted against adding the utility by roughly a 2-1 margin.
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