Stanislaus County Grand Jury
• 2002-2003
Reason for Investigation a formal complaint was received regarding various matters concerning the City of Hughson.
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 14 findings
F1
Prior to April 28, 2003, the city of Hughson had no written credit card policy.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
On April 28, 2003, the Hughson City Council adopted Resolution No. 03-17, which established basic policies and procedures for using city credit cards.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The following have access to city credit cards: Mayor, City Manager, Public Works Director, Special Projects Director/worker, and City Clerk.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Prior to April 28, 2003, the mayor used a city credit card for personal use.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
A complete audit should be conducted of all credit card use for the period prior to April 28, 2003, with a reasonable period to include at least twelve months prior to the adoption of Ordinance No. 03-17.
R4
Any personal use of credit cards identified in the audit be reimbursed to the city immediately.
R5
Any misuse should be addressed by the city council and all appropriate action be taken.
F5
When the mayor used a city credit card for personal needs the city was not reimbursed.
Related Recommendations (4)
R2
A complete audit should be conducted of all credit card use for the period prior to April 28, 2003, with a reasonable period to include at least twelve months prior to the adoption of Ordinance No. 03-17.
R3
The mayor reimburse the city for all personal credit card use.
R4
Any personal use of credit cards identified in the audit be reimbursed to the city immediately.
R5
Any misuse should be addressed by the city council and all appropriate action be taken.
F6
The city credit card ordinance, adopted April 28, 2003, provides that personal use is prohibited.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The city has no written policy on personal use of city cellular phones.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The City of Hughson should enact a written policy for city cellular phone use. B. Use of city employee and funds for work on private property.
F8
From December 2001 through May 2003, the mayor used a city cellular phone for personal calls.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The mayor’s calls regularly exceeded the standard monthly charge and he reimbursed the city.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The city’s purchasing policy since 1984, City Ordinance No. 84-03, was replaced in 2002 by City Ordinance No. 02-01.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
During the last two years, not all receipts were turned in to substantiate business use of city credit cards.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Hughson City Ordinance No. 03-17 should be amended to include a provision for review of credit card use by the city manager.
F12
Invoices, receipts, and credit card statements are reviewed by the city manager or his designee before being submitted to the city council for review and approval, and before being paid by the city clerk, or her designee.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The city council receives all documents provided by credit card users before the city council meetings in which these payments are approved.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
All credit card purchases are not documented and/or verified as city expenses. CONCLUSIONS
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 12
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CL1 Page 3Prior to April 28, 2003, the manner in which the City of Hughson verified business use of city credit cards and cellular phones was inadequate and vulnerable to misuse.
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CL2 Page 3Prior to April 28, 2003, a city credit card and city cellular phone were used for personal business by the mayor.
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CL3 Page 3The City of Hughson has addressed the need for a clear and written policy regarding use of city credit cards.
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CL4 Page 3The City of Hughson has not enacted written cellular phone policies.
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CL5 Page 3Pursuant to the newly adopted City Ordinance No. 03-17, there is still no independent review of the city manager’s use of city credit cards, as only he is designated in the ordinance to review credit card documentation.
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CL6 Page 3Prior to April 28, 2003, verification as to business use of all receipts was inadequate and vulnerable to misuse and/or abuse.
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CL7 Page 4The described use of the city employee by the city manager was neither illegal nor inappropriate.
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CL8 Page 4Use of a city employee to work on a public official’s property may be a reasonable option. Whether the city official pays “side-job” rates, or the city employee wants to do an unpaid personal favor for the city official on his own time is irrelevant. But, when this arrangement is made privately and the work is done during the “normal” workday, then is discovered rather than disclosed, an appearance of impropriety may follow. If possible, the arrangement should be avoided, or made public.
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CL9 Page 4Providing an employee the option of accruing “comp time” rather than normal overtime pay is reasonable, in that it is provided for in the city personnel manual, as long as it is consistent with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
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CL10 Page 5The use of inmates is of some economic benefit to the city.
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CL11 Page 5The manner in which the City of Hughson transported and supervised the inmates was inadequate, and provided an opportunity for abuse or misuse by the inmates, and left the citizens vulnerable to such abuse or misuse.
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CL12 Page 6The CalHome Rehabilitation program has not been properly administered by the City of Hughson.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Hughson
City