Moratorium on Purchase Cards (P-Cards) in DeKalb County
MORATORIUM ON P-CARDS UNTIL AUDIT AND INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE COMPLETED
Time for a moratorium on purchase cards (p-cards) usage in DeKalb County. DeKalb County must implement a moratorium on purchase cards to regain public trust and proper oversight of the program.
The recent exposé on Commissioner Elaine Boyer and Commissioner Sharon Barnes-Sutton has created a cloud of distrust, waste, abuse and corruption (borderline alleged illegal activity) involving the use of p-cards for personal use such as paying for speeding tickets to financing a ski resort trip. The common factor each commissioner recites involves their lack of knowledge of policy, procedures, keeping proper records, etc.
A moratorium on purchase cards involves the following:
1. Moratorium on further independent usage of the purchase cards until the audit is complete. We must improve management oversight and internal control of the purchase card program.
2. Cardholders must submit supporting documentation to the program for review and override within 24-72 hours. Documentation must include all purchases made with p-cards with verification that such purchases were for county purposes.
3. Blockage of high risk transactions and categories must be part of the program to deliver red flags to administrators responsible for oversight.
4. Develop training sessions on p-card policy and procedures for purchase cardholders and approving officials to address the non-compliance issues.
5. Depending on the severity of the violations, cardholders and approving officials in violation of agency policy and/or procedures may have their authority revoked, suspended, and/or possibly be subject to termination and/or civil/criminal prosecution.
Once a pattern of abuse is verified through the audit, the individuals in willful and flagrant violation of the purchase card policy and procedure must be held accountable with civil and criminal charges to the fullest extent of the law.
Governor Deal Signed SB367 – Time To Pick District 5 Commissioner
GOVERNOR DEAL SIGNED SB367 ON APRIL 10, 2014. DID YOU KNOW?
Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter recently learned that Governor Nathan Deal signed the bill that would allow the replacement of District 5 Commissioner on April 10, 2014.
We are presently trying to verify the next step in picking the 5th District Commissioner. What is the process and when will the process begin.
DeKalb 5th Commission District has been without full representation since July 16, 2013, when Commissioner Lee May was appointed interim CEO by Govern Deal due to CEO Burrell Ellis indictment on corruption and racketeering charges.
As stated in Crossroads Newspaper, Senator Fran Millar said the nomination process would be advertised for two weeks in the county’s legal organ before the BOC could vote.
http://crossroadsnews.com/news/2014/mar/28/bill-allows-temporary-commissioner-district-5-seat/
Representative Mike Jacobs’ website state:
SB 367 contains a provision that was added as a House floor amendment to permit the remaining six members of the DeKalb County Commission to appoint a temporary commissioner to replace Lee May until he is no longer the Interim CEO or his current term on the county commission concludes, whichever is sooner.
http://repjacobs.com/2014/04/22/local-issues-in-the-legislature/
We must remember that the replacement of the 5th District Commissioner came with a heavy cost that once again neutered voting power and local control in DeKalb County.
This was a local bill that was made a general bill during the General Assembly, which gave elected officials from North Georgia and South Georgia the power to pick the 5th District Commissioner of DeKalb County. The elected officials in North Georgia and South Georgia were given the privilege of choosing the 5th District Commissioner by making SB367 a general bill; yet, the voters in the 5th Commission District were not allowed to vote. Where’s the local control?
The general public of DeKalb County is being kept in the dark on this issue. Why?
If Governor Deal signed the bill on April 10th, why the secrecy and lack of information?
What should you do? Every voter needs to contact the Board of Commissioners (BOC) and demand more information before the appointment of the 5th District Commissioner. Every voter should demand the BOC make every effort to pick a person the voters in the 5th Commission District wants as a representative. Back door politics must be avoided.
View SB367:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220927230/Governor-Nathan-Deal-Signed-SB-367-Time-To-Pick-District-5-Commissioner
Ethics Complaint Filed Against CEO Burrell Ellis
Rhea Johnson, a DeKalb County resident, filed an ethics complaint against CEO Burrell Ellis late on Tuesday.
As the Complainant, Johnson filed the ethics complaint to have CEO Burrell Ellis removed from office because the indictment and grand jury report documentation justify Ellis permanent removal from office. Johnson said, “He violated the Code of Ethics”.
While the criminal indictment set a standard for conviction of a crime at “beyond a reasonable doubt”, the Code of Ethics conviction requires the standard of proof governed by the “preponderance of the evidence”.
Read the rest of the story at the following link:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/breaking-news/ethics-complaint-filed-against-ellis/nfgKr/
Question: Should DeKalb County taxpayers and voters continue to finance the salary and full benefits of the following:
a. Two CEOs to include CEO Lee May and CEO Burrell Ellis ($153,000)?
b. Two Purchasing and Contracting Directors to include Kelvin Walton and Scott Callan ($153,000 each)?
c. CEO Burrell Ellis’ secretary, Nina Hall ($75,000)?
View the Ethics Complaint below:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220030978/Ethics-Complaint-Filed-Against-CEO-Burrell-Ellis
Ten Year Audit of DeKalb Commissioners’ P-Cards
Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.
Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton surprised the public as well as her fellow commissioners with a gift…A ten year audit of the DeKalb Commissioners’ P-Cards.
Commissioner Jeff Rader and Commissioner Kathie Gannon introduced a resolution during the Board of Commissioners meeting, directing the executive assistant to obtain the services of a certified internal auditor or a certified government audit professional to analyze the expenditures of each member of the Board of Commissioners and their staff.
The audit will include the following:
• Audit to review the expenditures for the past ten years by each BOC, his/her respective staff and office, and the central office of the BOC;
• Audit shall review expenditures and decide whether the expenses were for county business;
• The auditor shall begin auditing commission district 6 first, per Commissioner Barnes Sutton’s substitution.
• The final and complete audit shall be distributed promptly to each member of the BOC, the CEO, and the Board of Ethics, and shall be made available to the public.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution article, “DeKalb Official Spent County Funds On Herself” by Johnny Edwards (3/22/2014), reported alleged misuse of the her purchase card (P-Card).
http://legalpronews.findlaw.com/article/22082f625614e6f3810cfff376dbde72#.U0rRSiiKV6U
The resolution attempts to restore public trust through the use of transparency, and begin to restore public confidence.
Update: Email statement from Commissioner Kathie Gannon
Independent Audit for all Commissioners
Yesterday the Board of Commissioners took the first step forward into sunshine and transparency. Commissioner Rader and I introduced the attached resolution calling for an independent audit of all spending for the past 5 years by each County Commissioner starting with District 1. The audits will include Purchase Cards, all other expenditures and all commission staff. The resolution directs the County to hire a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Government Audit Professional using funds previously budgeted for an internal auditor. The resolution was modified by Commissioner Barnes-Sutton to start with District 6 (my District) and to go back 10 years and then begin with District 1. This substitute motion passed without a dissenting vote. Commissioner Barnes-Sutton later attempted to call for a reconsideration of her substitute motion, however that failed. Please see the attached resolution that calls for an audit of all County Commission expenditures.
Kathie Gannon
Super District 6 Commissioner
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220196905/Ten-Year-Independent-Audit-of-All-DeKalb-Commissioners-P-Cards
Walton And Hall Suspended
WALTON AND HALL SUSPENDED
DeKalb’s Interim CEO, Lee May, placed the county’s purchasing director and CEO Burrell Ellis’ former secretary on paid leave Monday, April 21, 2014.
Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall were involved in alleged corruption in county government procurement processes. May said that he decided to suspend Walton and Hall to rebuild public trust.
Read the rest of the story at this link:
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/two-tied-to-corruption-in-dekalb-suspended/nffHN/
Two Tied To Corruption In DeKalb Suspended
or view the video at:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/2-dekalb-officials-accused-accepting-bribes-placed/nffGg/
2 DeKalb Officials Accused Of Accepting Bribes Placed On Administrative Leave (4/21/14)
Restore DeKalb Public Corruption Unit
Restore DeKalb Public Corruption Unit
Time for Transparency, Ethics, and Accountability
Time to contact Interim CEO Lee May and the Public Safety Director, Dr. Cedric L. Alexander, to demand DeKalb County restore the public corruption unit. We must restore public trust.
Contact Interim CEO Lee May: 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor, Decatur, Georgia 30030.
Phone: 404-371-2881
Fax: 404-687-3585
Email: ceoleemay@dekalbcountyga.gov
Why? View this video for one of many examples of public corruption cases that place a cloud over DeKalb County.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/whistleblower-against-dekalb-employees-believes-he/nYyxx/
Time for Transparency, Ethics, and Accountability!
Were Commissioners Informed of P-Card Policy? You Be The Judge.
TIME TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE WHO VIOLATE “PUBLIC TRUST”
It is important to increase transparency, ethics, and accountability in DeKalb County Government. Since Commissioner Elaine Boyer has claimed that she was not aware of doing anything wrong, we must search for documentation to verify if her statement is in fact true.
Crosswords Newspaper article: “Boyer Uses County Card For $12,000 In Personal Expenses” by Ken Watts (3/28/2014), reported the following quotes from Commissioner Elaine Boyer:
• “It never dawned on me that what I was doing
was wrong.”
http://crossroadsnews.com/news/2014/apr/11/boyer-facing-ethics-probe-over-debit-card-use/
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article: “DeKalb Official Spent County Funds On Herself” by Johnny Edwards (3/22/2014), reported the following quotes from Commissioner Elaine Boyer:
• “I was never informed that what I was doing was in violation of any county policy.”
http://legalpronews.findlaw.com/article/22082f625614e6f3810cfff376dbde72#.U0rRSiiKV6U
It is paramount that we increase “Public Trust” in DeKalb County. We must hold our elected officials accountable if they knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth to the public.
View the answers to Open Records Request on DeKalb County Commissioners Deficiencies below…
You be the judge:
1. Purchase Card (P-Card) Comprehensive Audit Review – BOC/Central Staff/ County Clerk to CEO & BOC (Scan 2): http://www.scribd.com/doc/218008597/Purchase-Card-P-Card-Comprehensive-Audit-Review-%E2%80%93-BOC-Central-Staff-County-Clerk-to-CEO-BOC
2. Internal Audit of P-Card transactions for period October 2009 through February 2010 (Scan 6):http://www.scribd.com/doc/218013456/Internal-Audit-of-P-Card-transactions-for-period-October-2009-through-February-2010
3. Internal Audit of P-Card transactions for the period December 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011 (Scan 7): http://www.scribd.com/doc/218014020/Internal-Audit-of-P-Card-transactions-for-the-period-December-1-2010-through-May-31-2011
4. Commissioners Cardholder User’s Agreement and Purchasing Card For Travel Agreement Form (Scan 5): http://www.scribd.com/doc/218014552/Commissioners-Cardholder-User%E2%80%99s-Agreement-and-Purchasing-Card-For-Travel-Agreement-Form
5. Commissioner Elaine Boyer and Bob Lundsten Ethics Complaint (Scan 4): http://www.scribd.com/doc/218015213/Commissioner-Elaine-Boyer-and-Bob-Lundsten-Ethics-Complaint
6. P-Card Review Lunch and Learn with Commissioners Attendance Record (Scan 3): http://www.scribd.com/doc/218015808/P-Card-Review-Lunch-and-Learn-with-Commissioners-Attendance-Record
7. DeKalb County Commissioners Chief of Staff Morris Williams P-Card Activity (Scan 8):http://www.scribd.com/doc/218016234/DeKalb-County-Commissioners-Chief-of-Staff-Morris-Williams-P-Card-Activity
DeKalb Corruption Against LSBE Vendors
DeKalb Corruption against LSBE Vendors
Published on Sep 29, 2013
DeKalb Corruption against LSBE Vendors
Dear Local Small Business Enterprise Vendors,
We ask that you join Hopie Strickland with Strickland and Son Construction and Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter to call for a federal investigation and forensic audit of the Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) program to include:
• DeKalb County Government
• Contract Compliance Division
• Purchasing and Contracting Department
We strive to expose:
• Bid rigging
• Kickbacks
• False documentation to secure funding
• Stealing
• Extortion
• Etc.
We demand transparency, ethics, and accountability from our elected officials and government agencies. Help us ensure our tax dollars are used for the best interest of the public.
If you have experienced any corruption while doing business with DeKalb County, please send an email to unhappytaxpayers@gmail.com or phone 770-256-0034.
Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter files ethics complaint – WSBTV and AJC
Ethics complaints have been filed against two DeKalb County staffers, including the star witness in the pending political corruption trial of suspended CEO Burrell Ellis.
County resident Viola Davis, who has pushed for more openness in county government, said her complaints against Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton and former Ellis assistant Nina Hall are based on their testimony before a special grand jury investigating corruption. The testimony was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier this month. Continue reading story in AJC online at WWW.AJC.COM