Responding to complaint, state probing nonprofit
Six fire companies
express confidence in Fund Drive Association
By carolyn o’connell
Staff Writer

A state agency is investigating the operation of the Long Branch Fire Department Fund Drive Associa-tion. The investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed regarding the management of the organization.

A second complaint seeking a full accounting of the fund drive’s expenditures is being prepared by the Elberon Fire Company. The majority of the city’s fire companies have officially expressed confidence in the individuals running the nonprofit organization.

Fire Chief Sam Tomaine said three companies have yet to cast ballots on the matter.

The investigation is being carried out by the state Division of Community Affairs, a regulatory body within the state’s Department of Law and Public Safety.

The division regulates all charitable organizations under the attorney general, according to Beth Rosenberg, a spokeswoman with the agency who also confirmed the filing of the first complaint. "We will take our time to sort out all the facts and to do a thorough investigation," she said.

While the state body is already looking into the fund drive’s operation, another complaint about the organization is in the works.

"We are preparing a detailed complaint which has not yet been filed with the state," said Harvey "Ross" Schiffler, president of the Elberon Fire Company.

"What we want," said Schiffler, "is a dollar-by-dollar accounting. They (the drive trustees) should show us where they spend every dollar. I want to know not only as a representative of a fire company, but I want to know as an individual. I’m not saying what they used the money for is wrong.

"We will be submitting the complaint to the attorney general to get our answers," he added.

In the meantime, the nine firehouses within the city are taking a vote of confidence on those running the association. That vote was requested by the association’s director, Robert Faye.

Kevin Hayes, secretary of the West End Engine Company, said that a vote expressing confidence in Faye was made at the company’s meeting last Thursday, and the company was unanimous in support of the director and trustees, Thomas Siciliano III, William Budd and Joseph Valentino.

Hayes said approximately 17 of the 60 company members were at the meeting and "voted to continue to support the fund drive, and in continuation of the drive’s operation."

The Atlantic Engine and Truck Company, which has approximately 100 members, also held a vote of confidence. "There were no objectors to the confidence vote," said Anthony Giordano, city councilman and treasurer of the company.

Of the 100 members, Giordano said, there were approximately 25 to 30 people at the meeting, which is a typical turnout for that particular company, he said.

At the last Association of Officers of the Fire Department meeting, held on Jan. 30, approximately 45 members voted to elect Giordano as the chairman of the auditing committee.

The auditing committee was created by a motion at the Nov. 18 Association of Officers meeting. One member from each company will be elected to the committee which will review the books and records of the fund drive association.

Giordano, employed by the Monmouth Community Bank as a chief financial officer, noted that he is familiar with auditing techniques and practices, which is why he believes the officers attending the meeting had asked him to be the chairman.

"An independent auditor will be hired to look into the drive’s financial records," Giordano said.

The committee will hire an independent, certified public accountant with experience in nonprofit organizations, he said.

Tomaine, who is in support of the auditing, said, "An independent auditor will enhance what the fund’s current accountant (Panis and Attner, Ocean Township) has said are impeccable records."

"Part of the auditor’s job," said Giordano, "will be to compile financial statements and present the financial position of the fund drive [association]." In addition, he said, he will "make recommendations for any areas that may not be in compliance."

At this time, Giordano noted that the cost of such an audit is not known because the committee still needs to define the scope of work it wants the auditor to do. The fee, he said, may be paid by the fund drive association, the individual companies or a combination of both.

"We (the auditing committee) will meet to discuss the plan of action and report back to the City Council and our individual fire companies," he said.