Overview
- City commissioners authorized the auditor to investigate a tip alleging a supervisor enabled a subordinate to use a city purchase card for personal items and trips with a romantic partner.
- City Auditor Abinet Belachew disclosed the allegation during a contentious meeting while presenting his travel-spending findings.
- The audit cited unauthorized travel and excessive or under-documented costs, including business-class tickets, valet charges and a $90.89 dinner on a city P‑card.
- City Manager Deric Feacher said policies that have gone untouched for decades will be reviewed annually, with revisions coming to the commission soon and a ten-person committee now examining rules.
- Mayor Derrick Henry pushed back on the auditor’s framing, urging that the review remain focused on travel spending rather than staff relationships.