Summary

This audit of the Department of Community Affairs (Department) focused on activities of the Office of Comprehensive Planning (Office).  The audit included the period July 2005 through February 2007, and selected actions taken through September 2007, and disclosed that Department operations and oversight for local government comprehensive planning activities needed improvements as described below:

Finding No. 1:     The Department had not prepared and submitted several reports required by law.

Finding No. 2:     The Department had not updated one of its rules or the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Review Manual (Manual) to address law changes relevant to comprehensive planning made during the period 2002 through 2007.

Finding No. 3:     The Department did not always properly document whether input was received from applicable governmental agencies, or for input received, that appropriate consideration was given and proper dispositions made.

Finding No. 4:     Department policies and procedures for handling customer inquiries and complaints could be improved.

Finding No. 5:     The Department’s procedures could be strengthened to provide greater assurance that employees are properly trained for their assigned responsibilities and that all work is properly supervised and conducted in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Finding No. 6:     The Department’s current policies and procedures do not require Office employees to provide periodic disclosures to address all potential conflicts of interest.

The Secretary's response is included at the end of this report as Appendix F.