Senator Dawn Marie Addiego

August 12, 2009   

Contact: Robbie Kenney / (609) 654-1498
Senator Dawn Marie Addiego

Audit by State Comptroller Found Evidence of a Department Run Amok

Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder called for increased scrutiny and oversight over the state’s Department of Developmental Disabilities after a damning audit report by Comptroller Matthew Boxer.

“The findings of the audit are shocking and infuriating. This is yet another egregious example of a state agency abusing New Jersey residents, wasting taxpayer money, and failing in their mission,” said Assemblyman Scott Rudder, a member of the Assembly Human Services Committee.

The audit of Human Service’s Division on Developmental Disabilities found examples of unchecked spending, overpayments, questionable expenses, and the lack of competitive bidding for contracts, among other problems.

The comptroller determined that one contractor was paid $1.4 million for life-skills training for residents who did not receive any instruction.

“Once again, the taxpayers in New Jersey have been delivered a staggering blow, but now we’ve hit an all-time low. People with disabilities were not able to get the training they desperately needed because of incompetence, greed, and out-right theft,” said Assemblywoman Addiego.

It is clear that, as far as the Division of Developmental Disabilities is concerned, tax money is nothing more than disposable dollars, to be spent without purpose or accountability,” said Assemblywoman Addiego.

State comptroller Matthew Boxer’s report was full of other atrocious findings, including:

• More than $111, 000 spent on Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises
• Improprieties with progress reports on clients – some reports were fabricated or copied from one reporting period to another, and many were incomplete
• A restaurant tab in excess of $3,600 from Spain
• Conferences for staff members in Nashville and Florida
• $2,690 spent at a restaurant and rum bar in Atlantic City

“The Division on Developmental Disabilities is one of the largest agencies in New Jersey, and their responsibility is funding crucial programs for some of society’s most susceptible, fragile, challenged individuals. The systematic squandering of this money is even more exasperating because the dollars are coming from programs to help people coping with severe brain trauma, autism, mental retardation or other developmental disabilities,” said Assemblyman Rudder.

Assemblyman Rudder sent a letter to Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, the chair of the Assembly Human Services committee, requesting a hearing into the DDD and the issues raised by the comptroller’s audit.

The letter from Assemblyman Rudder to Chairwoman Oliver follows:

August 12, 2009

The Honorable Sheila Oliver
Chairwoman, Human Services Committee
15-33 Halsted St.
Suite 202
East Orange, NJ 07018

Dear Chairwoman Oliver:

In light of Comptroller Matthew Boxer’s audit of Human Service’s Department of Developmental Disabilities, I am requesting that our committee hold hearings into the operations of the department.

Not only did the comptroller find multiple instances of fiscal abuse and a lack of accountability, but he also uncovered improprieties in more than a third of the progress reports on clients that his office reviewed.

The department is wasting money and possibly compromising the level of client care.

I respectfully appeal to you to convene a special hearing to address the many issues uncovered by Comptroller Boxer’s audit, and the overall function and performance of DDD, one of the largest state agencies.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, I can be reached through the 8th District office at (609) 654-1498.

Sincerely,

Scott Rudder
Assemblyman

Audit by State Comptroller Found Evidence of a Department Run Amok Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder called for increased scrutiny and oversight over the state’s Department of Developmental Disabilities after a damning audit report by Comptroller Matthew Boxer. “The findings of the [...]