Pittsburgh’s Internal Probe Reveals Misuse of City Credit Cards with Limited Repercussions
Pittsburgh’s internal investigation into the misuse of city-issued credit cards has concluded, revealing “honest mistakes” by employees without extensive disciplinary action or policy changes. City officials, led by Budget Director Jake Pawlak, disclosed findings from the three-month review, which primarily flagged improper use within the Department of Parks and Recreation but found no large-scale wrongdoing.
However, the investigation has coincided with a separate probe from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. This inquiry has raised concerns over payments to a contractor, Mario Ashkar, amounting to over $20,000, and alleged non-cooperation from city officials. An affidavit supporting the DA’s search warrant asserted that former contractors received improper payments and suggested potential criminal activity surrounding the credit card usage.
Councilman Bob Charland voiced dissatisfaction with the internal probe, criticizing a lack of transparency and communication from city officials concerning the findings. Controller Rachael Heisler echoed similar frustrations, indicating ongoing concerns regarding payment documentation and the ambiguity surrounding what qualifies as a "professional service."
The investigation pointed out failures by Parks and Recreation Director Kathryn Vargas in authorizing payments beyond city-imposed limits and retaining a contractor who had previously been terminated for performance issues. Despite these findings, Pawlak assured the public that no major system changes would be implemented, citing the need for employee retraining instead.
With the DA’s office continuing its investigation and internal reviews persisting, city officials are under scrutiny for their handling of municipality credit card policies. The Office of Municipal Investigations recommended additional approval procedures while insisting that the city’s small number of credit cards will remain largely unchanged.
This ongoing saga underscores the tension between city governance, financial oversight, and law enforcement investigations amidst emerging allegations of misconduct.
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