Health board retains auditor

By William K. Alcorn

alcorn@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Mental Health Board awarded a three-year, $53,000 contract to Reali, Giampetro & Scott to perform annual audits of the board’s four core contract services agencies.

The Boardman firm was hired Thursday over the objection of Atty. James Callen, a board member, who said it is good practice to rotate auditors to “get a fresh set of eyes” looking at the books and to prevent “a tendency to get cozy” with the firms being audited.

Callen also argued that the board did not specifically approve a contract term and said that approval of a contract might be illegal.

However, the board voted 8 for, 2 against and 2 abstentions to approve the agreement with Reali.

Ronald Marian, board executive director, said Reali has audited the contract agencies’ books “for at least 10 years.” He said familiarity with the agencies is an advantage because the auditors know what to look for.

Nine bids were received for the auditing work, ranging from $28,900 to $106,000. Using the criteria of lowest and best bid, the board’s Ways and Means Committee recommended Reali, noting its bid was competitively priced, and the firm has a significant amount of behavioral health-provider audit experience and was accessible to the board and providers.