Pembroke Park commission adopts ticket-tracking policy after OIG recommendation

The Town of Pembroke Park on Feb. 18 adopted Resolution 2026009 to create a policy for acceptance, tracking and reporting of tickets to charitable events when the town pays for a table or admissions.

Town Attorney (on the record) said the resolution follows a county Office of Inspector General review recommending municipalities adopt policies to track purchases of tickets and the distribution of those tickets to elected officials and staff. The policy creates a tracking mechanism for town purchases so that if the value of distributed tickets exceeds statutory thresholds, recipients can report gifts as required by state gift-disclosure law.

"If the value of that ticket exceeds $100, then it's a reportable gift," the attorney said while explaining the gift-disclosure and quarterly Form 9 reporting obligations. The policy places administrative responsibility with the clerk for maintaining records when the town purchases tickets and distributes them to commission members or town staff.

Commissioners voted to approve Resolution 2026009 by roll call; Mayor Jacobs recorded a 'no' vote and the motion carried. The town attorney noted the county OIG may return to check which municipalities have adopted such policies.

The resolution is intended to increase transparency about use of public funds for event admission and to ensure town practices conform with state reporting thresholds.