Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092536
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bowers, chairman of the city's Audit Committee, said he is concerned about news reports that two people who have been charged with running illegal bingo games on behalf of charity grossed more than $150,000 at the Bonanza Bingo parlor on Williamson Road.
Council members have an obligation to assure city bingo players that their funds are going to a charitable cause, Bowers said.
In a letter on council's agenda for Monday, Bowers asks council to approve his request that William Brogan, the municipal auditor, investigate the bingo operations and make recommendations.
If the news report is accurate, he said, "certainly the city has an obligation to know that the funds are being properly addressed for charitable reasons and that all proper city taxes and licenses are being paid."
George Fox of Troutville and Patricia Hendrix of Buchanan have been charged with exceeding the state-mandated $1,000 limit on special jackpot prizes awarded during bingo games at the Bonanza Bingo parlor.
According to records filed in the Roanoke commissioner of revenue's office, Fox was conducting games on behalf of the St. Andrews Church Youth Group - apparently without permission from the church.
In a letter to Commissioner of Revenue Jerome Howard, the Rev. William S. O'Brien of St. Andrews Church said, "This is to inform you that I have given no one the authority to seek a license for bingo in the name of any organization within the parish."
O'Brien asked in the letter that a bingo permit granted to Fox be revoked. The permit was voided on Feb. 27, according to records.
Howard said he did not call the church group to confirm the application for a permit because he knew it was a religious organization.
"You take the application at face value and assume that they have the authority," Howard said.
Fox, a member of St. Andrews, said earlier this week that the issue was a "misunderstanding" he had with church officials, but declined to elaborate.
In his letter to council, Bowers said he wanted council and the public to know that he is a volunteer worker for the Knights of Columbus Bingo at St. Elias Hall and a registered member of St. Andrews Church.
Bowers said he will ask City Attorney Wilburn Dibling for a legal opinion on whether his involvement with bingo and the church raises a potential conflict of interest for him on the bingo probe by the municipal auditor.
If there is a conflict, Bowers said, he will appoint a special subcommittee of the Audit Committee to oversee the matter and he will withdraw.
by CNB