Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993                   TAG: 9305140246
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AUDITOR'S PLEA GETS FEW TIPS

"Either a lot of people did not take it seriously or there aren't many problems out there," he said.

Bird, Roanoke's internal auditor, recently sent a letter to each of the city's 1,850 municipal employees asking them to call or write him if they had concerns about the misuse of funds or other improprieties.

They were invited to disclose fraud, theft, embezzlement or other wrongdoing. And they could do it anonymously.

Bird got 30 responses.

A couple of employees provided valuable tips, but many responses contained broad complaints or accusations without any details, he said.

However, some responses were specific: One involved a secretary who was using city envelopes for personal mail.

Some employees also apparently misunderstood the reason for the letter, Bird said.

"Some said there would be no reason for the letter if we were doing our job," he said. "Overall, I was a little disappointed by the response."

Bird said he remains ready to accept tips from city workers at any time. They can call or write him anonymously.

The letter to all workers was prompted by the disclosure that former Finance Director Joel Schlanger charged $1,788 in personal calls to the city.

Initially, Bird and City Council's Audit Committee considered the use of a fraud-and-abuse hot line.

But they dropped that idea for several reasons.

The hot line would have cost $600 a year and would have required someone to answer the phone.

Some committee members also feared that city employees might have been reluctant to use the hot line.

Instead, Bird decided to send the letters to city workers.

Bird asked for their help in identifying situations in which there might be improprieties. He said he was especially interested in cases where employees:

Do not collect, keep and report data accurately and on time for making decisions.

Violate an ordinance, law or regulation of the city, state or federal government.

Commit or allow fraud, waste or abuse of resources.

Bird enclosed a blank sheet of paper with each letter for the employees to provide tips and explain their concerns.

In addition to his regular audits of the city's financial operations, Bird budgets time each year for special assignments.

This was the first time he has sent letters to all city employees.