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Comptroller Bill Thompson recommended that the Department of Parks and Recreation should consider terminating its agreement with the Worlds Fair Marina Restaurant and Banquet Hall due to the facility’s failure to comply with a number of provisions in its contract.

These recommendations were outlined in an audit released Tuesday that revealed a long list of complaints about Marina Restaurant and Banquet Hall ranging from the fact the facility was not actually operating a restaurant to allegations it was not accurately reporting its earnings or paying the appropriate license fees to the City.

The facility was also accused of failing to pay tips to its wait staff, not having a cash register or adequate accounting system and having dysfunctional plumbing, including missing sprinkler heads and deficient drains and piping.

The restaurant and banquet hall, which is run by Food Craft, Inc., is permitted to operate based on a license agreement with the City.

Parks spokesman Philip Abramson said although the Department of Parks will not terminate the contract, it will proceed with Thompson’s alternate recommendation to closely monitor the facility’s operations.

“We look forward to working with the Comptroller’s office and an independent financial monitor to ensure that Food Craft will now exercise proper and transparent internal fiscal practices in their operation,” Abramson said. “Furthermore, since the audit was conducted, we are pleased that Food Craft has followed the Comptroller’s recommendation to install a point-of-sale system to record its restaurant and banquet sales.”

Thompson instructed Food Craft to “take immediate action to strengthen its internal controls over the financial operations of the restaurant, the bar, and banquet hall,” in addition to paying all service charges to employees, begin operating a restaurant as specified in the contact, pay the outstanding water and sewer charges totaling $18,646 and carry out the 11 out of 29 required capital improvements that had not been addressed by the facility.

Yoram Nachimovsky, an attorney who represents Food Craft,, said since being presented with Thompson’s recommendations, the facility has worked to remedy the problems discovered by the audit.

“The audit reflects past time periods more than it reflects today,” Nachimovsky said.

He said he thinks the Comptroller’s findings did not properly represent the restaurant and banquet hall.

“We think it is harsh and we don’t see a reason for it, but were not out to act harsh to him,” Nachimovsky said.

The Office of the Comptroller disputes the claims that their findings were particularly severe.

“Our office stands firmly behind the audit’s findings. The Comptroller is glad that in the face of the problems uncovered, that the Parks Department and the vendor, Food Craft, Inc., are taking steps to remedy these troubling issues.”

In response to Thompson’s claims that the facility does not operate as a restaurant but solely as a banquet hall, Nachimovsky said the lack of an easily accessible entrance is to blame.

“The reality is the entrance way to the place has been closed,” he said. “It’s very hard to get people to come to the restaurant on a regular basis. If we can open up an entrance on the highway and put that entrance back into place, the restaurant will be a lot more busy.”

Abramson said this problem had not been brought to his attention before.

“We had not heard about this concern prior to the audit,” Abramson said. “However, it is important to note that Food Craft assumed operation for this concession, and signed an agreement saying that they would operate a restaurant, being aware of what the access points to the facility were.”

Nachimovsky said the World Fair Marina Restaurant remains committed to addressing the City’s concerns. Abramson remains hopeful the problems with be rectified.

“We look forward to this concession continuing to provide a great service to all New Yorkers looking for an affordable restaurant or banquet hall with beautiful views of the Flushing Bay,” Abramson said.

Reach Reporter Kaitlyn Kilmetis at kkilmetis@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.