The County Commission chairman also calls for the bus agency boss to resign after a troublesome audit.
By DAVID KARP
Published March 17, 2004
TAMPA - Did the county's bus agency hide records from an auditor?
Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Tom Scott wants prosecutors to investigate that allegation.
Scott said an employee at the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority told him Tuesday that employees were instructed to hide records from the county's internal performance auditor, who conducted a review of the bus agency's spending.
The employee said there was a "coverup," Scott said. "That people have been advised to remove documents and files."
Scott said the employee asked to remain anonymous because "they are in fear for their job."
The employee told Scott that "when other people come forward, they have been terminated or moved around," he said.
The bus agency's spokesman, Ed Crawford, said officials welcomed an investigation.
"The funny thing about law enforcement is they have to follow the law," Crawford said. "And you have to produce evidence. You can't just go with innuendo."
He noted that the accusations weren't specific and came from an anonymous source.
Commissioners plan to discuss the auditor's report this morning at their meeting at the County Center. Auditor Kathleen Mathews released a draft report Tuesday that said the bus agency awarded contracts without following proper procedures, ran up bills without approval, and used federal funds intended for bus services to pay for Tampa's electric streetcar system.
Bus officials denied the allegations, and said the auditor did not give them an opportunity to fully respond to her findings.
"This report, which is not an audit, is so rife with errors that we are trying to correct - if we are ever given an opportunity," Crawford said. "Apparently, the train is running, and we ain't on it."
Scott called for the bus agency's executive director, Sharon Dent, to resign.
"I think enough is enough," said Scott, who until recently said he supported Dent. "We need to put this thing to rest. The credibility of HARTline was already shot. And then we got this report. And this didn't help any."
Scott said bus officials need to acknowledge their mistakes, rather than cast blame elsewhere. He said he will consider withholding about $1.3-million in county funds if the bus agency's board does not fire Dent.
The bus agency's 11-member board includes two Hillsborough County commissioners, a Tampa City Council member, and a member of the Temple Terrace City Council. The other members are appointed by the commission, the city and the state.
Crawford said the board has no reason to fire Dent.
"What are the grounds?" he said. "The only thing we have seen is a draft that we haven't even had a chance to comment on."
