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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesI.G. BEING ASKED TO AUDIT ROOFING PROGRAM

I.G. BEING ASKED TO AUDIT ROOFING PROGRAM

V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt will be asked to audit the territorial government's handling of $30 million in federal funds used to replace roofs damaged by recent hurricanes.
Juel Molloy, chief of staff to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, said the matter is being referred to van Beverhoudt because serious questions have surfaced about whether the money was properly spent.
Van Beverhoudt said Monday that he discussed an audit of the roofing program with Turnbull but hasn't gotten any official request yet. He expressed some concern about resources since his strained staff is now juggling several other audits, including one on the "midnight raid" by 37 government officials and employees who got lump-sum payments for unused leave.
Meanwhile, two senators — Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and George Goodwin — have decried and called meetings on the Home Protection Roofing Program.
Hansen's meetings, set for 6 p.m. Wednesday in St. Thomas at the Senate building and 6 p.m. Thursday in St. Croix — are to give people still awaiting roofs a status report on the program.
Hansen had asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to investigate allegations that money for the program was misappropriated. She said she was told that the request was sent to FEMA's inspector general and that other money might be identified to complete needed repairs.
Hansen said 100 families — 75 on St. Thomas and 25 on St. Croix — were told that the Property and Procurement Department had run out of funds for the roofing program.
Goodwin, as chairman of the Senate Housing, Parks and Recreation Committee, said he has received numerous calls from homeowners and from contractors who have not been paid for work done under the program. He has called a meeting on the roofing program for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the Senate chambers in St. Thomas.
He has invited testimony from Marc Biggs, acting commissioner for Property and Procurement; Charlie Bornman, project manager for the Housing Protection Roofing Program; Ira Mills, acting director of Management and Budget; Aron Romans, chairman of the Dispute Resolution Panel; and Alva Swan, acting attorney general.
Goodwin also invited the public to testify at the hearing. To sign up or for more information, call Goodwin's office at 693-3565.

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