AUGUSTA, Maine - The Legislature's Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously this morning to authorize a preliminary review by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability - or OPEGA - of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority. The review is an effort to determine whether a full audit of the quasi-state agency is warranted.
The request for a review was pushed by Government Oversight Committee member Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, of Brunswick. Gerzofsky told his fellow panelists that his constituents had some real concerns about operations at the authority, which receives $2 million annually in state funding.
"OPEGA will be able to evaluate compliance with the laws, regulations, policies and procedures," Gerzofsky said. "Many concerns have been raised over the past few years about the operation and management of NEPRA," Gerzofsky said. "There appears to be a real lack of trust among some of the public."
Staff at OPEGA said it may take up to two months for its staff to return some recommendations to the committee.