News Briefs: Volunteers sought for sustainability committee; audit recommends DA office improvements

GB seeks volunteers for town sustainability and livability committee

Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Selectboard seeks interested individuals to serve on the town’s Strategic Sustainability and Livability Committee.

The committee will research, recommend and support initiatives that will reduce the town’s greenhouse gas footprint, improve resilience to the changing climate and build community cohesion. Initiatives will be considered and selected not only for their impact on climate emissions but also for their impact on supporting affordability, accessibility and cost savings for the community.

Interested individuals are asked to send a resume and/or letter of interest by Thursday, Jan. 31, to hkuziemko@townofgb.org or to Jennifer Tabakin, 334 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.

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Audit provides recommendations for improvement at Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office

Boston — State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump has released a transition audit of the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, which highlights needed improvements related to forfeited funds and the office’s internal control plan. The audit, which was requested by former District Attorney Paul Caccaviello shortly after his March 2018 appointment, provides newly sworn-in District Attorney Andrea Harrington with recommendations to address these areas.

The audit notes that some forfeited funds were not remitted to the BCDA by law enforcement in a timely manner. Under state law, certain funds used in illegal activities, including the purchase and sale of controlled substances, are subject to forfeiture by the Commonwealth. In some cases, it took up to 780 days after being court ordered for these funds to be transferred to BCDA. This issue was first identified by Bump’s office in a 2014 audit. In its response, the BCDA indicates it is taking measures to address this issue.

The audit also found the BCDA’s internal control plan, an agency-wide document that summarizes risks and controls for all business processes, has not been updated since 2016.