OCC Board Reviews President's Spending, Gives OK

Ocean County College President Dr. has received a clean financial bill of health after a review of his expense spending since May 19, 2008.

The $12,247 in expenses was reviewed at the request of the OCC Board of Trustees after revelations about spending by the president of Brookdale Community College led to an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Trustee Jerry Dasti, an attorney, who chairs the board’s Finance Committee, said following the review of Larson’s expense they were determined to be “reasonable and in full compliance,’’ with the policies and procedures of the college.

Stephen Leone, another trustee who is also a lawyer, said the review by the board’s Personnel Committee found Larson’s spending “extremely satisfactory…within the policy guidelines…and de-minimis in nature."

Hundreds of pages of documents were reviewed covering Larson’s expenses from May 19, 2008 until Dec. 10, 2010.

“It was an unfortunate distraction. The outcome was what everybody thought it should be,’’ Larson said after the results of the review were announced.

The records of the spending were made public as the trustees met Monday afternoon.

Dasti also revealed that an attorney for Brookdale has made an open public records act request for all of Larson’s expense records dating back to 2005.

He said it was “unfortunate,’’ that college had to hire an attorney to request the records, and that OCC will likely charge Brookdale for the cost of compiling and providing the records predating those made public yesterday.

“They can have three years right away,’’ said Sara Winchester, OCC’s vice president of finance.

Gordon J. Golum, the lawyer requesting the records, asked OCC officials to contact him prior to copying and delivering the records to estimate the total cost.

 The procedure used by Larson for his expenses was detailed Monday. He uses an American Express credit card issued by the college for business expenses. When the bill arrives at the college Larson reviews it and writes a personal check for the total. Then he matches receipts for business expenses, deducts personal expenses and submits a request for reimbursement for college related expenses. Larson’s assistant reviews the submission before it goes to the Director of Financial Reporting in the OCC Accounting Department. From there the reimbursement request goes to Winchester for approval and a check is cut to Larson. Membership rewards garnered by the credit card are redeemed by the college as donations to the OCC Foundation.