CITY COMMISSIONER BEN NEECE ISSUES PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT ABOLITION OF AUDIT AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

City Commissioner Ben Neece

Fellow citizens, I submit this commentary in rebuttal of Dereck Garcia's (Channel 23) recent report, which attempted to malign me and my actions as Chair of the city's Audit and Oversight Committee in its efforts to protect the citizens of our community and provide transparency and accountability in the governance of our city:

Mr. Garcia. I feel I must address your report, so I submit this comment: 

First, it's really sad that you have chosen to gaslight this issue and that your report is so slanted as to deny its credibility. 

It's, also, obvious that you are choosing to 1) deflect this issue from one which uncovered one of the most corrupt operations ever encountered in the City Administration headed by Charlie Cabler and 2) to protect Commissioner Tetreau's re-election bid, rather than address the audit, itself. Gas lighting 101. 

The Audit done by the legitimately formed Audit and Oversight Committee exposed an operation which resulted in the diversion of city services to a private company, unauthorized to even operate within the City of Brownsville. The Committee's report showed that at least $68,000.00 was diverted to private hands. 

To add to your irresponsible reporting you don't point out that the internal auditor's report, which supported most of what the Audit and Oversight Committee found, was suppressed by the City Manager, who was in direct control of his auditors. 

This was one of the flaws pointed out by the Independent Audit, which provided recommendation to alleviate this type of abuse inthe future. 

If you recall, the meeting in which the Audit and Oversight Committee reported its findings to the Commission, which Mr. Cabler did not attend, included a written statement by Mr. Cabler, which ended with HIS REQUEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT. 

This sentiment was reiterated by Commissioner Longoria. So, at the next Audit and Oversight Committee meeting, the then acting City Manager, Michael Lopez, was authorized by the Committee, including Commissioner Tetreau, to engage an Independent Auditor to carry out the requested Independent Audit. 

Mr. Lopez followed the procurement process and engaged Burton, McCumber and Longoria to carry out the audit. 

The cost was well within his discretion as City Manager to expend the funds for the Independent Audit. 

In effect, the actions of the A & O Committee was superfluous to the City Manager's request. 

If the City Manager was taking efforts to correct a flawed internal control feature, i.e having the Internal Auditors under the control of the people that needed the auditing, he was trying to conform to standard and accepted audit controls, which require independence. 

If Commissioner Tetreau had been so concerned, she should have taken action, then, but now that this is a campaign issue, she has used you and your station to do damage control. 

This is obvious, since you didn't even bother to seek my comments or those of Mr. Lopez. 

To reiterate, the City Manager (Charlie Cabler) requested the audit, backed by Commissioner Longoria, The A & O Committee authorized the Interim City Manager (Michael Lopez) to engage the Independent Auditors and he did so, well within his discretionary authority. 

Rather than discuss the findings of the Independent Audit you choose to attack the process by which it was obtained, completely ignoring the results, which your viewers are still confused about. 

Remember, that if the A & O Committee had not put a stop to the illegal operation, they would still be ongoing and private citizens would be reaping the benefits of their misdeeds. 

Apparently, this not of importance to you. Now, since you have raised the specter of some "lawsuit" against the City, tell us (and I challenge you to do so) what is this mysterious lawsuit, because from what we can tell from your report, you didn't even interview Mr. Sossi.

Instead you use your position as a reporter to arouse the citizens of Brownsville into some state of anger and fear of a "possible" lawsuit.

Why don't you inquire into why Mr. Cabler did not seek to recover the $68,000.00 from his friend, Carlos Elizondo and why he and Elizondo were never held accountable? 

Why don't you ask Mr. Sossi, if he plans to sue the City, so we can know exactly what his cause of action is? 

Why don't you share, with your viewers, the fact that Commissioner Tetreau voted to abolish the A & O Committee, while there was a pending complaint, by Commander Dale, which involved Commissioner Tetreau's unauthorized meddling in the operations of the Brownsville Police Department and the proper allocation of its resources? 

The City Charter prohibits Commissioners from directly communicating with departments regarding their operations. We must go through the City Manager. 

Ignoring this issue is nothing short of pathetic. As a matter of fact, that is what I tried to do to stop the illegal ambulance scam, but the City Manager refused to take action, which is why the A & O Committee was formed. 

To characterize it as a "failed" committee is so irresponsible that your station should look more deeply into your motives for you gas lighting. 

Remember, that Commissioners Tetreau, Longoria, Munguia and De Leon abolished the A & O Committee, while it had an agenda pending in which 1) the Independent Audit Report would be acknowledged, 2) a Code of Ethics be recommended, 3) a Whistleblower policy be recommended and 4) Commander Dale's complaint (directly involving Commissioner Tetreau) be investigated. 

In fact, a subpoena had been issued to Commissioner Tetreau, regarding this complaint. Your irresponsible reporting has helped to hinder transparency and accountability in our community. 

Now your viewers believe that the A & O Committee is the culprit,rather than the wrongdoers ... great job! And now, a complaint has been filed with BPD, against, me for Abuse of Office by Commissioner Tetreau. 

This is ludicrous and nothing more than a feeble attempt to hide her lack of transparency and bolster her campaign. We'll see how long it takes to delete this comment, but I'll be posting it on my wall, as well. 

I guess this type of reporting is to be expected from a cub reporter using his position to shield his friend during her reelection bid.

City Commissioner Ben Neece