Commissioners approve fraud-prevention policy

Posted Tuesday, November 15, 2016 4:53 am

By Rob Ford rob@gonzalesinquirer.com

GONZALES – County commissioners on Monday approved a new policy to help detect and prevent fraud.

Officials say the policy applies to any fraud (or suspected fraud) involving elected officials, department heads and employees – as well as consultants, vendors, contractors and any other parties conducting business with Gonzales County.

The policy will target the prevention of acts that violate the county's code of conduct, and dishonest or fraudulent act and things like theft or other misappropriation of county assets – or assets of the county's customers or vendors.

The policy was established also to prevent any irregularities in county records (such as intentional misstatements), forgeries, improprieties in financial transactions and the disclosure of confidential information to outside parties.

According to the policy, it is the responsibility of every employee, supervisor, manager and elected official to immediately report suspected misconduct or dishonesty to their supervisor. Supervisors in particular are required to be knowledgeable of what can go wrong in their area of authority, and to be able to take appropriate measures to prevent acts of wrongdoing.

Commissioners also voted to approve By-Laws amendments for the Gonzales County Historical Commission. The addition of a Certified Local Government (CLG) committee allows the commission to expand its level of participation in programs suggested by county commissioners and the Texas Historical Commission by acquiring CLG status. At that point the commission becomes eligible to receive valuable technical assistance, training and matching grants tied to developing and maintaining a local county comprehensive preservation planning program. Projects eligible for grant funding include architectural surveys, oral histories and educational and public research materials.

In other business, commissioners: