Hartford Auditors Say Department of Public Works Must Clean Up Its Books

Questions about accounting problems in the Hartford Department of Public Works has auditors demanding answers.

Chief Investigative Reporter Len Besthoff got the exclusive details following a Hartford Internal Audit Commission meeting on Thursday.

A report released today points out serious issues with the Department of Public Works, which manages hundreds of city vehicles worth tens of millions of dollars.

Specifically, the Internal Audit Commission has questions about the Equipment Services division.

Auditors found that 30 percent of the spare parts on hand were unusable because they were either obsolete or had too many. Staffers also improperly recorded a $5 part as being worth $5,000 dollars in an inventory report, according to the audit.

A review of gasoline usage in 2013 showed that almost 2,000 gallons of fuel were connected to the identities of employees who had been fired by the city as far back as six years ago.

“They're not minding the store, and that's why we generated the report that says there are a range of issues within that department," explained Hartford Internal Audit Commission Chairman Bruce Rubenstein.

City leaders say they will take steps to fix these issues. The Hartford DPW is being run right now by an interim director.

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