Austin Parks Employee Found in Violation of City Policy
A new report from the Office of the City Auditor has revealed that an employee from the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) violated city policy by organizing a birthday party at a recreation center without adhering to the proper regulations and fees. The incident involved Mark Vasquez, a recreation program supervisor overseeing the Montopolis Recreation Center.
Details of the Incident
The birthday party took place in November 2023, outside of the center’s normal rental hours. According to the city’s policy, rental of the facility should occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. If properly booked, the event would have cost $420. However, Vasquez only made a late payment of $300, two weeks after the party had already happened, after he learned of the investigation by the auditors.
In an attempt to cover up his actions, Vasquez back-dated a reservation in the management system for the facility. He incorrectly indicated that the event took place during regular hours at a different location in South Austin. This deceitful act was uncovered during the audit when the auditors requested security footage from the Montopolis center.
Violation of Policies
During an interview with the auditors, Vasquez admitted that he had violated city policy. He acknowledged he did not reserve the space in the appropriate time frame and stated that he would not have allowed anyone else to bypass the rules had they been in his position. Vasquez claimed that the last-minute decision to hold the event was a result of weather concerns; however, weather records showed conditions were mild on the day of the event.
In a move to rectify the situation, Vasquez corrected the reservation record and made an additional payment of $110, bringing the total closer to what was owed. Nevertheless, the audit concluded that Vasquez’s actions violated the city code prohibiting employees from using their official positions for personal benefits. In this case, his actions constituted a clear breach of City Code §2-7-62(I).
Response from Parks and Recreation
The findings from the audit have been forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further review and potential action. In response to the report, Vasquez expressed that he takes full responsibility for handling the situation poorly. He stated, “This was an unacceptable lack of attention and amount of procrastination.” In his report, he mentioned the department’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for community members and organizations, even in the case of last-minute requests.
Though this incident is not typical, he recognized the need to adhere strictly to the guidelines for facility rentals.
Future Precautions
Angela Means, the interim director of PARD, commented that the department agrees with the audit’s findings. The department plans to address the issue with Vasquez and the Community Recreation Division. Means also mentioned that all employees will undergo refresher training on city ethics to prevent similar incidents.
Furthermore, the department aims to monitor the rental processes at all facilities more closely going forward. These steps are essential to ensure accountability and transparency within the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.
Conclusion
The situation involving Mark Vasquez serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to city policies and regulations. The investigation highlights the need for ongoing education and strict monitoring of systems in place to prevent misuse of position in public services.
