Montgomery County taxpayers are footing the home Internet bill for three high-level Department of Correction and Rehabilitationemployees, according to an internal review obtained by the Washington Examiner.
The review also found that some corrections employees were improperly reimbursed for their commutes when they were required to work holidays and weekends.
The review stemmed from an anonymous complaint that Art Wallenstein, director of the agency, and his management staff were misusing public funds on books, meals and travel.
The review by the county’s internal audit found a few instances in which county policy wasn’t being followed, but no illegal behavior.
Wallenstein said he welcomed the review and that his office is committed to spending the county’s money wisely.
“We are responsible and accountable for every dollar that we spend,” Wallenstein said.
He said he “ordered” three of his staff many years ago to have Internet access at their homes so they could be available to work on “sensitive,” “difficult” and “complex” budget documents and internal investigations at any time.
The review found that one of the three employees has a separate Internet connection for personal reasons. The other two have no other Internet connection at their home. The connection costs range from $36 to $48 a month.
An opinion from the County Attorney’s Office said the arrangement with the three employees did not violate county policy, but the workers should keep their personal Internet use to a minimum on their county-paid connections.
The review also found that the department was reimbursing clerical and administrative staff who were sometimes required to work on weekends and holidays — a violation of county policy. Wallenstein said those reimbursements, which have stopped, amounted to “perhaps” $200 a year for the last three to four years.
Steven Emanuel, the county’s chief information officer, said he does not know if the county pays for Internet connections for other county employees. He said he is considering a policy recommendation to discontinue the practice given the ubiquity of home Internet use.
Wallenstein also uses county funds to buy books on management and public policy that he gives to employees, the review found. The books become part of the department’s library and are designed to help employees improve their job performance, Wallenstein said. The review found no problem with using public funds to purchase the books, or with the meals and travel costs the department had charged to the county.
