BY LAURA GOLDBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Throwing yet another twist into the continuing debate over Tom Quinn's stewardship of the Metropolitan Sewer District, Cincinnati Councilman Todd Portune Friday called for a performance audit of Hamilton County's only MSD employee, the comptroller.
Mr. Portune asked Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes to do an evaluation.
County commissioners oversee MSD policy, such as extension and replacement of sewer lines. Cincinnati runs the 628-person district. Mr. Quinn, MSD director, and other sewer district employees report to the city. Comptroller Alan Landis is a county employee.
"There are all these allegations of fees being lost by policy not being adhered to . . . and what nobody's discussing and what I want to know is where was MSD's comptroller during all of this," Mr. Portune said.
Thursday, Councilman Charlie Winburn called for Mr. Quinn's firing. Earlier this week commissioners questioned Mr. Quinn about why he waived or reduced tap-in fees for businesses, including Procter & Gamble's Olestra plant.
Questions have also been raised about sewer district practices, including the waiver of $800,000 in sewer connection fees for businesses and home builders.
Mr. Rhodes said he takes Mr. Portune's request "very, very seriously" and would consult with prosecutors and commissioners on whether his office has the authority to review the matter.
Doing the audit would take approval from commissioners, Mr. Rhodes said.
Mr. Portune said the comptroller is supposed to direct MSD's financial affairs. He cited a job description, which includes: reviewing financial controls and reporting systems; directing budget preparation and financial forecasts; maintaining accounting system; and maintaining and recommends internal controls.
"His job description outlines illustrative duties which oversee MSD and specifically should have shed light on the kinds of allegations which are coming to bear," Mr. Portune wrote. Mr. Landis said he hadn't seen Mr. Portune's letter and couldn't comment on it.
Suzanne Burck, the county's director of administrative services, said none of the allegations falls under Mr. Landis' authority. Mr. Landis, she said, takes a broad view of operations, including the budget. Ms. Burke said he looks at and makes recommendations on rate increases, but is not involved in the day-to-day decision-making of MSD.
"Frankly, it's the city's responsibility to manage MSD," she said.
