Finding 1206236 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-04-09
Audit: 398201
Organization: Town of Berwick (LA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to publish required information for citizens with hearing impairments regarding communication methods.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with LCDBG guidelines and federal regulations on accessibility for individuals with visual and hearing impairments.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with LCDBG requirements and improve public notice practices.

Finding Text

2025-004 Citizen Participation Year Initially Occurring: 2025 CONDITION: The publication notifying citizens of the availability and phone numbers of the TDD or equally effective method for communicating with the hearing impaired could not be obtained. CRITERIA: Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) 2023 Grantee Handbook; Visual and Hearing Impairments, states in part “The Grantee must have a policy indicating the use of the relay system by the Grantee and publish the telephone numbers in the newspaper within six months of the date of the “Authorization to Incur Costs.” Also, 24 CFR 8.54 Notices, (c) states “The recipient shall ensure that members of the population eligible to be served or likely to be affected directly by a federally assisted program who have visual or hearing impairments are provided with the information necessary to understand and participate in the program. Methods for ensuring participation include, but are not limited to, qualified sign language and oral interpreters, readers, or the use of taped and braille materials.” CAUSE: Failure to provide the public notice. EFFECT: The Town may not be compliant with the LCDBG 2023 Handbook. RECOMMENDATION: We recommend that the Town implement policies and procedures to comply with LCDBG requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

The Town will implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with grant programs.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1206235 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $596,039
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $345,012
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $241,516
20.708 NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY AND MODERNIZATION GRANT PROGRAM $30,000
20.607 ALCOHOL OPEN CONTAINER REQUIREMENTS $3,160
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HGIHWAY SAFETY $1,600