HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-05-29 91-223 ORDERData 5-29-91 91 „V" Item No. 91-223
Item/Subject: Appointment of City Auditor FY1991
Responsible Department. Finance
Commentary: Although Brooks 6 Carter, CPA's extended engagement
concluded one year ago, and was extended for the audit of FY90 -
we are requesting another single year extension of the engagement
for the audit of FY91 and production of financial statements. This
extension would allow the city to continue its correction of prob-
lems and weaknesses wit��ppout bringing a new audit firm up to speed
on the city's process And systems or losing ready access to the
historical information in the B b C files. The terms are $25,000
for the audit; $5;000 for the federal Single -Audit Act report;
conclusion of .field work and draft financials by 10/31/91 and periodic
meetings of the auditors with the Finance Committee= Accounting
Services would be provided at $45.00/hr for professional staff and
$25.00/hr for para -professional staff.
(May 15, 1991 Letter and May 16, 1991 Letter of Engagement)
DIP11111M Hard
Manager's Comments:
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Budget Approval
FY 1992
Legal Approval D/ -
/}ac .City s=;;.;tar
Introduced For
®Passage
Ll First First Reading Page — of
❑ Referral
BY the City Coe W of As qty K8an0or
ORDERED,
MT The City Manager is authorized to engage the services
of Brooks and Carter, CPA, 84 Harlow Street, Bangor, dor auditing
the city's books and records for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991
per the terms and conditions specified in the May 16, 1991 Letter of
Engagement and the May 15, 1991 Letter Cutlining the Understanding
of terms and conditions.
91-333
Aeeipied b Cowulw
Cohen, any 29, 1991 d
CITY
OF
BANGOR
(TITLE) (Orba
Appointment of City
Auditor for By 1991
BY the City Coe W of As qty K8an0or
ORDERED,
MT The City Manager is authorized to engage the services
of Brooks and Carter, CPA, 84 Harlow Street, Bangor, dor auditing
the city's books and records for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991
per the terms and conditions specified in the May 16, 1991 Letter of
Engagement and the May 15, 1991 Letter Cutlining the Understanding
of terms and conditions.
SN City Cooncil Nay 29,1991
qa&g stp Amerdea 7 Yes 1 No
Voting Yes Baldacci,Bragg,
Cohsn,Prankel,Saxl,Stone,
Sullivan
Voting No Soemud
AbseM Sswyer
Amended as Follows
CAP OF 545,000.00 ON ACCOUNTING
SERVICES THE ACCOUNTING FIRM WILL
BE MUMM W CONE BACK 113 PULL
COUNCIL TO SPED MORE
ACCOUNTM FIRM WILL SUBMIT A BILL
HONTMLY TO THE FJWANCE COtUITTEE
FOR REVIEW
u�==•SP � c K L
City Clerk
91-223
e R D E R
Title,
Appointment. of
......................................
City Auiditor
for fy
1991
.................. e................... .
�A%''/Aeeiged tto'
.......MHT! -Wit!'-'!` ..............
(uunCiNan
Certified Public Accountants
May 15, 1991
Mr. John Quartararo
Pinna a Director
City of Bangor
73 Barlow Street
Bangor, NB 04401
Dear Mr. Quartararo:
91-223
Pursuant with our discussion today, this letter Sate forth our
understanding of matters reviewed at lunch.
Brooke and Carter will Perform the fiscal year June 30, 1991 audit of the
general porpoce financial Statements of the City of Bangor for a fee of
$25,000 in accordance with the term set forth inwor Standard a gagement
letter, which is Attached. We will also mmeinthe schedule of federal
financial assistruce untlss the Bingle Audit Act for an Additional fee of
$5,000. Brooks and Carter will also provide aces nting assistance tc the
City of Bangor an reelected by the City for a rate of $45 Per Professional
staff hour and $25 per para -professional staff hour.
The accounting Services will be conducted under the joint Supervision
of
m
Brooks and Carter m nageent red the finance director of the City.t e
ordering of these accounting 60xvidwe Brooks And Carter will require
rtain degree of echaduling flexibility, which we understand is acceptable
to the City. Not withstanding tha need for certain flexibility in the
Scheduling of staff, we will make every effort to comply with the city -0
achaduli:g needs, and if necessary we will make provisions to assign
certain staff full tied.
Professionals aacigned to the City of Bangor audit engagement will include
the following:
Vaughn I.
Mersey, Jr.
CPA
Brunagescat Partner
Joseph I.
deny
CPA
Quality Control Partner
Rebecca 0.
Phillipe
CPA
Senior Auditor
Deborah A.
Cyr
CPA
Senior Auditor
other professional staff including a istants will be assigned as needed.
The accounting services will be performed by Rebeeca Phillipe and supported
by other professional staff as necessary. In Addition, para -professional
staff will be utilized where feasible and as agreed to by the finance
director.
Bangor, Maine 04401 (20])94]-8568
Mr. John guartararo
Page 1
May 15, 1991
As part of our engagement, we mould request that appropriate mambare of the
enyagment teem, together with the finance director, meet periodically
during the course
of the a,yegment with the finance coupittea. The
purpose of these meetings would As to inform the finance committee of the
Statue of the engagamant(e) and issues identified which may need council
resolution.
On aaral o aeionS we have discussed deficiencies that exist within the
City's Accounting System including the Overall structure of that System,
duplication and patmKlal inefficiencies that may Saint within the eyStm's
design, and interface of the City's general accmntin4 records with those
Of the varlwe departments and enterprise operations. As you know, Brcoko
and Carter's work paper files contain extensive informatim aWut the
City'B accounting eyBtm. Bananas of Our knowledge of the Systm it might,
therefore, be advisable to give consideration to a project designed
Bpecifically to recommend and implment changes needed to improve that
system. This project would be a separate eugagment, but would draw upon
the knowledge base already Contained in our files and make eaxlmum use of
your expertim. The extent Of the ecgogment would need to be defined
based on the City'a objectives --ie complete Systems Study and modification
r limited ecoPo as determined by the City. Brcoka and Carte[ would
Perform Ouch an eagagement for a fixed [ate per hour.
We look forward to providing Services to the City of Bangor and working
with you to improve the City's accounting and management information
vystms. After reviewing the contents of this letter, planes call with any
questions that you, M Barrett, or measure of Council may have.
Very
Wt✓rru)l(/yXOure,
Vaughn L. Harney 1
Certified Public Accountants
any 16, 1991
Honorable Members of Council
City of Bangor
City Mall, 73 Earlier street
Bangor, Maine 04401
We are pleased to Confirm our understanding of the mervicas we are to
provide for the City of assignor, Maine for the year ended Are 30, 1991.
Ge
will audit the general purpose financial statements of the City of Bangor
Mauve ee of and for the year ended June 30, 1991.
our audit will be made in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards and will include [ of the accounting records of the City of
eangur, Maine and other procedures we Consider necommary to enable us to
express an unqualified opinion that the financial statements Are fairly
presented, in all material reaps[., in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. If our opinion is ether than u,pualified, we will
fully dieaee the reasons with you in advance.
Car procedures will include Geste of documentary evidence supporting the
transactions recorded in thea counts, and may include teats of the
physical existesa of inventories, and direct confirmation of ram ivables
awl Certain aslant aerate and liabilities by correspondemme with selected
individuals, creditors, Audi financial institutions. We will request
written representations free year attorneys as part of the myagemeM. At
the conclusion of our audit, era will also request certain written
representations free you about the financial statemeate and related
mattera.
An audit includes examining, ona test basis, evidence supporting the
nervous end dieCloeurae is thefinsuriel statements; therefore, Car audit
will involve judgment about the banner of transactions to be examined and
the Areas to be tested. Also, we will plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable asouranne, about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. rose ves, becomes of the Concept of reasonable
assurance and because we will not pazform a detailed examination of all
transactions, there to a risk that material errors, irregularities, or
illegal Acte, including fraud or defalratione may exist and not be
detected by us. We will advice you, however, of any matters of that nature
that rows to nor attention.
Bangor, Maine 04401 (20])94]-8588
aureeponelbility as auditors is limited to the Period covered by ou
dd dit adome not extend to matters that might grime during any later
periods for which we are act engaged as auditors.
We understand that you will provide us with the basic information requirad
for me audit and that you ar responsible for the accuracy and
completeness of that information. we will advise you about appropriate
eountLp principles and their application and will assist in the
preparation of your financial statement, but the responsibility for
preparation of the financial statements remains with you. This
responsibility includes the maintansom of adequate records and related
internal control structure Policies and proceduree, the selection and
application of amm sting principles, and the safeguarding of Meseta.
We understand that year ®ployeee will type all cash or Other confirmations
we request god will Innate any Invoices selected by us for testing. We
will provide a list of schedules, prepared by client (PRC), that year
accounting department will be expected to prepare for our staff.
Our audit is not specifically designed and cannot be called on to disclose
reportable conditions, that in, significant deficiemies in the design o
Operation of the internal central structure. however, during the audit, if
we become aware of Both reportable conditions or ways that we believe
management practices can be improved, we will ecammunicate them to you in a
separate letter.
r fees for these services will be basad an the actual time spent at our
standard hourly rates, plus Other out-of-pocket mete such as typing,
postage, etc. Our standard hourly rates very according to the degree of
responsibility involved and the experience level of the person]. assigned
to your audit. Our imricae for theme fund will be raMered as work
programmes and are Payable on presentation. In a mrdame with our firm
Policies, work may be suspended if your account becomes 30 days o
mom
overdue add may not be redumad until your Become is paid in full. Based
an Our Preliminary estimates, the fee should approximate $25,000. This
estimate is boded on anticipated commration from your Personnel and the
assumption that mempmted circumstances will not be encountered during the
audit. The PBC schedules mentioned amore ars not imluded in e
anticipated audit fee, and should we be required to prepare these
Schedules, it will be billed separately at our standard hourly rates. If
significant additional time in necessary to easier you with closing the
fiscal year or Performing the audit, we will disease It with you before we
Lour additional torts.
NB appreciate the opportunity to he of service to the city of Bangor. Maine
and believe this letter accurately soomeriaee the significant toren of oor
engagement. If you have any questions, plea" 1X us an e. If you agree
with the terms of our engagement as deemIDed in this latter, please sign
the enclosed copy and return it to us.
very truly yours,
Aw&-�
"SPONSE:
This letter Currently sets forth the understanding of the City of Bangor,
Maine.