An audit released Wednesday uncovered a "distressing lack of financial controls and management oversight" at an aviation museum that is home to the last lunar module ever built for the U.S. space program.
Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman said in his report that "drastic operational changes must be implemented" in order to save the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
"The Cradle of Aviation celebrates Long Island's pivotal role in the development of air travel, from the first biplanes to man walking on the moon," Weitzman said. "Unlike the marvelous vintage aircraft on exhibit there, however, the museum has barely gotten off the ground."
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The $55 million (euro44.06 million) state-of-the-art museum, located near the Nassau Coliseum, opened to great fanfare in 2002, but has not met attendance and revenue goals. Visitors have declined from 246,415 in 2003 to 161,191 this past fiscal year. Weitzman predicted $113,000 (euro90,530.36) in losses this fiscal year and said without changes, the red ink will grow to $1.4 million (euro1.12 million) in 2007.
The museum, featuring a 7-story IMAX theater, occupies a cluster of hangars at Mitchel Field _ itself an historic site as headquarters of New York City's World War II air defense. It features 70 types of aircraft from canvas crates to modern jets. It also has the Apollo 19 module, which was ready to go when NASA's lunar exploration program was canceled for budget reasons. The museum also pays tribute to Charles Lindbergh, who left on his historic trans-Atlantic solo flight to Paris from Long Island in 1927.
Weitzman's audit, which covered operations and finances from July 2003 to April 2006, found ineffective fund raising, including a failure to aggressively pursue state or federal grant funding.
The audit also found that the museum has yet to be accredited by the American Association of Museums, nor have the museum executives sought accreditation _ "a fact that hinders its ability to raise funds with donors and foundations," Weitzman said.
The museum's directors were also faulted for failing to seek competitive bids for contracts over $5,000. (euro4,005.77)
"Numerous instances were found of contracts awarded with no competition, including one agreement for over $300,000, (euro240,346.1)" Weitzman said.
Earlier this year, the Nassau County Legislature agreed to give the museum $500,000 (euro400,576.83) and forgive $2.5 million (euro2 million) in debt in order to help keep the facility afloat.
In a statement, the museum's board of trustees said it has directed museum President Eric Ricioppo to implement Weitzman's recommendations and report back within 30 days. It also noted "many of the comptroller's findings" have already been addressed and corrected.
"While the board realizes we still have many challenges ahead, we are encouraged that the museum is in better fiscal shape today than it was a year ago," said vice chairman Raymond Jansen.
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