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COMPTROLLER POLONCARZ
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POLONCARZ RELEASES FORESTRY MANAGEMENT REVIEW
Comptroller Completes Review of County Forest Harvesting Initiative
August 1, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Timothy Callan 716-858-8801 or 716-858-8404
Yesterday, Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz issued an intensive review of Erie County's Forest Management Plan and Timber Harvesting operations.
The report, entitled "A Review of Erie County's Forest Management Plan and its Implementation" (the "Report"), was started in March 2006 and conducted to review Erie County's Forest Management Plan - a Parks Department initiated program to selectively harvest trees in Erie County's ("County") forests and sell the trees for revenue. In addition, the Report examined the County's relationship with a private non-profit group which is operating in County forests.
"I am pleased to release this Report to the public," said Poloncarz. "Our auditors have spent several months engaged in field work and document review, and I believe this Report will help the Parks Department maximize any potential revenue generated from harvesting County-owned timber."
The Report found one positive development, namely, that timber sales have generally resulted in higher than average prices for the County when compared to timber sale data maintained by the State of New York. However, the Report identified other findings, the most troubling as follows:
- The Parks Department and Erie County's Division of Purchase failed to widely disseminate the fall 2005 request for proposals ("RFP") announcing the timber harvesting project, which led to a lack of responses (only one response).
- The RFP was deficient in certain respects in failing to adequately define the scope of work to be conducted and in failing to define revenue expectations for the County and vendor.
- The terms of the RFP and the contract signed between the vendor and the County are inconsistent.
- The County forester attempted, despite directions to the contrary, to conduct an auction/sale of timber from Forest Lot 3 without publishing legal notices advertising the sales. This action was only halted after the intervention of the Office of Comptroller and the County's Department of Law.
- The vendor and County did not sufficiently publicize and solicit potential buyers for harvested timber.
As of the date of completion of fieldwork for the Report (first week of July 2006), total revenue received by the County constitute only 27% of that budgeted for in the 2006 Adopted Budget. If no more harvesting takes place in 2006, there will be a significant revenue shortfall for the Parks Department and County in 2006.
- We question the role an environmental education group, Earth Spirit Educational Services, Inc. ("Earth Spirit"), played in the development of the Forest Management Plan, and its use and occupancy of county facilities at Forest Lot 2. The contract entered into by Earth Spirit and the County in 2001 (the "ES Contract") does not conform to the 2000 Legislature resolution authorizing the county to partner with Earth Spirit.
Comptroller Poloncarz noted that the Report's completion is timely, as the County Administration has asked the Legislature to approve their request to start Phase II of the Forest Management program.
He further added, "While this office supports an appropriate plan of forest management that creates revenue for the County while also maintaining the long-term viability of the forests, I urge the Parks Department and Legislature to evaluate our findings and recommendations prior to the implementation of any additional forestry management initiatives so that the County may realize the greatest potential gain possible from the selective harvest of its timber."
In addition to the completed Forestry Review, the Erie County Comptroller's Office is currently completing an audit of the Buffalo City Parks-Erie County Parks agreement, and recently commenced an audit of the Erie County Sheriff's Office Division of Jail Management.
A copy of the Report can be found at the Office of the Comptroller's website at: http://www.erie.gov/comptroller/county_audits.asp
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Paid For by Friends of Mark Poloncarz
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Paid For by Friends of Mark Poloncarz.
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