PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: September 30, 2014
Barnstable, MA – The Cape Light Compact’s member towns and counties have received a document request from the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”). The request is part of an ongoing review.
In July of 2012, the Compact reached out to the OIG and asked it to review certain aspects of its operations and activities in order to resolve matters being raised by a report produced by the Special Committee of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and a few vocal and persistent critics. An iterative process with the OIG unfolded.
“We requested the review and have previously provided documents to the Inspector General’s office,” said Compact Vice Chairman Robert Schofield. “We welcome the opportunity for the towns to provide whatever information the Inspector General needs.”
The Compact provided a voluminous set of documents in response to a written document request from the OIG. In addition, the Compact staff and its auditors had in-person meetings with the OIG. Since the review began, the Compact has reached out to the OIG on numerous occasions offering additional information related to the OIG’s examination of the Compact’s records.
The most recent document request is focused on the 23 members of the Compact Governing Board and administrative matters related to the Compact. Each representative on the Governing Board is appointed by their respective member. Schofield, who has been Bourne’s representative to the Compact for the past twelve years, said that the request means each member town and the two counties have to collect whatever documents they have related to town actions concerning the Compact going back to 2006.
Tom Donegan, chairman of the Provincetown Board of Selectmen as well as the town’s representative on the Compact board, says it may take quite a lot of work to pull together the information, but that the effort is worth it “if it helps to clear the air.” He said, “The Cape Light Compact is a great organization that brings a lot of benefit to the people and towns on the Cape and Vineyard. I can tell you that it is critical to some homeowners in Provincetown. Everyone praises the energy efficiency program, and as individuals we can’t negotiate our own electric rates with NSTAR. We have something here we should all be very proud of.”
Bob Schofield stated, “We hope this review gets wrapped up quickly because that will help us to get back to the good work that the Compact does for consumers.”
ABOUT CAPE LIGHT COMPACT
Cape Light Compact is an award-winning energy services organization operated by the 21 towns and two counties on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. The Compact’s mission is to serve its 200,000 customers through the delivery of proven energy efficiency programs, effective consumer advocacy, competitive electricity supply and green power options. For more information, visit www.capelightcompact.org.
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