The Denver Board of Ethics on Wednesday discovered that Metropolis Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez’s spending and bookkeeping habits in her first few months in workplace didn’t violate town’s ethics code.
However board members expressed critical issues about what some termed Alvidrez’s “careless” or “reckless” use of taxpayer {dollars} final 12 months, and so they voted to doc these views in an ethics opinion.
A criticism filed in December by a former staffer alleged that Alvidrez paid her ex-husband, Cesar Duron, $4,234 out of her workplace funds to construct a float for a Halloween parade, regardless of already having contracted with a neighborhood nonprofit to construct one other float for $10,000. Amongst different alleged violations within the criticism was that Alvidrez used a metropolis bank card to pay for flight upgrades on a visit to and from Chile for the Biennial of the Americas in October.
“The Board of Ethics has restricted scope and is an advisory physique with out authority to impose penalty, however the Metropolis Council member’s actions right here on this case do seem to boost legit questions and issues associated to a sample of obvious reckless use of taxpayer funds,” board member Ray Gradale stated throughout the board’s assembly Wednesday morning.
Gradale steered that Lori Wesier, the board’s govt director, creator an opinion noting that the board discovered no technical violation. He cited Alvidrez’s reimbursement of town for all questionable spending, to the satisfaction of town controller’s workplace. And her spending on the float didn’t violate battle of curiosity guidelines.
Gradale stated the ethics opinion additionally ought to spotlight the board’s vital issues about Alvidrez’s spending and recommend potential updates to the Denver Code of Ethics. The movement handed 4-0.
Board member Everett Martinez recused himself from the vote and all consideration of the criticism towards Alvidrez. He’s the overall counsel for Denver Worldwide Airport, which is topic to council oversight.
Alvidrez didn’t instantly return a request for remark. She was elected final 12 months to signify south Denver’s Council District 7. She was sworn into workplace on July 17 as considered one of six new council members.
The ethics investigation into her spending dates to Dec. 18, when a former staffer filed a 42-page criticism towards her.
Alvidrez didn’t dispute the Halloween float and flight improve allegations in her written responses to questions from the ethics board that she despatched to Weiser on March 4. She famous that she and Duron are divorced and break up custody of their baby, with neither paying alimony.
Alvidrez targeted her response on her unfamiliarity with metropolis protocols, round which she since has accomplished coaching.
“I wished to start by sharing I just lately accomplished the (Ethics) and Public Accountability course in Workday,” she wrote, referring to a metropolis human assets system. “I used to be by no means made conscious there was such a coaching and located it very worthwhile.”
In that letter, Alvidrez famous that her complete workplace workers had turned over since she first took workplace. The departures included Leya Hartman, the senior aide who stop days earlier than submitting the ethics criticism.
Alvidrez steered that her workers was sad together with her as a result of she refused to grant them bonuses or additional time paid day off across the holidays final 12 months.
The Denver Metropolis Council’s central workplace obtained office complaints towards Alvidrez final 12 months that alleged, amongst different issues, that she yelled at and belittled staffers. These complaints weren’t investigated as a result of they “concerned office conduct that didn’t rise to the extent of discrimination, harassment or retaliation” beneath town’s office coverage,” stated Robert Austin, a spokesman for the council’s central workplace, earlier this 12 months.
Whereas the ethics board didn’t discover a direct violation of the ethics code, Wednesday’s assembly included loads of criticism of Alvidrez’s conduct.
“I hope that the opinion will notice that this was actually a flagrant disregard of the suitable use of public funds,” board member Jane Feldman stated.
Board chair Dianne Criswell steered the code might have to be up to date to cowl ex-spouses. Beneath the present code, they aren’t thought of fast members of the family and their involvement in a matter doesn’t set off a battle of curiosity.
“We’ve labored effectively with Metropolis Council up to now updates to codes, and I feel we’re all hopeful (about) consideration of future adjustments to make the code extra related and conscious of a few of these issues,” she stated.
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