Trips to India and ballooning costs for the Columbia Association?s computer system have prompted a watchdog group to call for an independent audit of the system.
“The whole point is accountability. The people of Columbia are paying for all of this,” said Alex Hekimian, head of Alliance for a Better Columbia.
The alliance is taking issue with the long-awaited and controversial Customer Services System,
which would allow residents to sign up for services and classes online.
Roll out of the system will begin in April, said CA spokeswoman Shelia Green.
In a letter to CA Board Chairwoman Barbara Russell, Hekimian details several concerns, such as cost overruns, the selection of a contractor in India and trips by CA staff to India.
An outside audit of the Computer Services System would allow the board to fix the system and avoid mistakes in future projects, Hekimian said.
“Something has to happen if irregularities are found,” he said.
Russell said she also is concerned about the program, particularly the staff trips to India and how long it has taken to get the program started.
However, Russell said she hasn?t seen evidence of wrongdoing, which would warrant an audit, and each time board members have questioned the project, the staff has provided reasonable explanations, she said.
“If there were a specific concern that pointed to the need for an outside audit, then I certainly would be supportive of having one,” she said, adding her concerns at this point are more general.
Board member Cynthia Coyle, who is chairwoman of the Performance Oversight Committee, similarly took issue with the work going to India and questioned whether the costs have mushroomed beyond what was budgeted.
Despite her concerns, Coyle said she wasn?t sure an independent review would serve much purpose.
“At this point, we have a computer system we are trying to implement,” she said.
AT A GLANCE
The Alliance for a Better Columbia raised concerns about the Columbia Association?s Customer Services System, including:
» The cost has grown from about $431,800 to more than $1.3 million.
» None of the companies that competed for the project perform work primarily in the United States, and the company selected outsources to India.
» CA staff went to India to consult on the project, despite money spent on video conferencing and online support technology.
