Mayor lashes out at alderman who jumped on fraud allegations bandwagon
There’s no evidence of fraud going on at city hall.
That’s the assessment of the city’s manager Owen Tobert who told council this week the city auditor’s allegations of fiscal wrongdoing were flat-out wrong.
Last month Tracy McTaggart released an audit report claiming contracts were given without competition 740 projects went over budget by almost $750 million and that some paperwork was missing.
McTaggart whose office is undergoing a performance review said “I would pretty well guarantee” — without evidence — that city staff has committed fraud.
Tobert however said no fraud was found and that city hall is a “systemically honest organization.” He added the missing paperwork is electronically available and that 600 of the 740 contracts he reviewed were on budget and properly authorized.
During the council meeting Mayor Dave Bronconnier lashed out at aldermen who had jumped on the bandwagon of McTaggart’s allegations.
When Ald. John Mar questioned the discrepancy between the two reports Bronconnier responded: "Rather than speaking out so quickly as some members of council have done you could wait until you actually had an informed answer.”
Council is hiring an external auditor to scrutinize the city’s purchasing process and a report is expected early next year after this fall’s election.
