County Executive Janet S. Owens announced plans yesterday to tighten controls on 600 county-issued credit cards to prevent employees from going on personal spending sprees.
The move comes less than two weeks after the former supervisor of the county's warehouse, accused of misusing his card, was charged with felony theft.
"We're going to strengthen the program," Owens said.
A hastily assembled internal audit team presented her with a report Wednesday calling for additional checks and balances, new reporting requirements and other safeguards. Owens said she agreed with the recommendations.
To make sure the changes are implemented, Owens is temporarily assigning a member of the budget office to oversee the procurement card program. She said cards not deemed necessary for county business will be canceled.
The swift response drew praise from County Council Chairman Daniel E. Klosterman Jr., although he noted that existing controls were not enforced for the warehouse supervisor alleged by police and prosecutors to have stolen between $20,000 and $40,000 through credit purchases over several months.
"I'm glad they spent the time to go through and tighten things up, but the point is, there was a set of procedures in place but they weren't followed," said Klosterman, a Millersville Democrat who owns an accounting business. "This is not to point the finger at anybody, but to say how easy things can slide."
Klosterman added, "I think she's done the right thing here."
Some of the recommendations appear to reflect current procedure. For example, the internal report says supervisors should approve all purchases made by their subordinates - a requirement that already exists.
Among the new proposals is a monthly report to department heads and supervisors from the county's purchasing division outlining card usage for the most recent billing period.
Also, the report recommends that the county finance office issue monthly reports indicating which employee cardholders have not filed required documentation.
During the eight months that Christopher Lee Middleton oversaw the county's Millersville warehouse, he failed to get a required supervisor's signature for his monthly credit card statements or to supply documentation to finance officials, the county said after he was charged with theft.
Yet Middleton's monthly bills were consistently paid. During this time, prosecutors allege, Middleton, 28, bought a host of personal items, including a $4,100 pinball machine, French doors and groceries.
