City Auditor's work won't be as publicized

The investigative work of Richmond City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal isn't as newsworthy as it used to be -- at least in the minds of city officials.

The City Council's office has stopped publicizing the release of auditor's reports that routinely point out waste and inefficiencies, as well as potential savings, at City Hall.

Officials said they're mirroring the practices of other local governments -- not downplaying the reports, which continue to be posted on the city's Web site for anyone who happens to be checking.

"When was the last time you saw a press release on an audit in Chesterfield or Henrico?" Council President Kathy C. Graziano said. "We're trying to be more in line with other localities in releasing audits."

"It's not necessary to do," said Council Chief of Staff Daisy E. Weaver.

But Silver Persinger, a resident who encourages public oversight and participation in city government, blasted the change. "What a way to shut down open government," he said.

The news releases evaporated in June after Dalal's office released a memo on the results of an investigation in the Richmond school system.

The review found that a schools employee had been overpaid by about $2,000 based on records falsified by his supervisor, with whom he had a personal relationship and later married. School officials were unable to say last week whether the money had been repaid.

E-mails obtained under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act show that some officials were surprised and bristled that a news release was issued with the memo. Unlike other auditor reports, the memo is not posted on the office's Web site.

After the memo was sent out in June, Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson asked Dalal about his office's release policy. He responded by saying federally accepted auditing standards call for results to be made available to the public. To ensure transparency, they are also posted on the Web site and released to the media unless prohibited by law, he said.

Weaver followed up, noting that the auditing standards "do not require media notices but simply public availability of information."

She suggested that officials had room to craft their own policy and added, "The advance media advisories still seem inflammatory to many."

Then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder thought so.

He called Dalal a "political lapdog" after a series of stinging audits last year. At the time, the race for mayor was under way with then-City Council President William J. Pantele squaring off against then-Del. Dwight C. Jones and three other candidates. Dalal was in the crowd when Pantele announced his campaign.

Jones won the election and, soon after taking office in January, pledged to work with the auditor's office to bring efficiencies to the city government. Tammy D. Hawley, Jones' press secretary, said the administration has not objected to news releases being issued but said it has asked to receive copies of auditor reports before they're released publicly.

The council's Governmental Operations Standing Committee has reviewed draft guidelines for the release of reports by the auditor's office and its inspector-general division.

The proposed policy includes a protocol for distribution of early versions of reports to administration officials but says the office shall not send copies of reports to the media and shall not engage in communication with the media. It further says that if members of the media request a copy of a report they should be advised to download from the Web site or to pick up a copy from the auditor's office.

"The City Auditor shall answer media inquiries seeking further clarification or understanding on the reported findings and recommendations," the draft policy says.

The lower profile for the auditor's office comes as city officials are debating whether the council, which currently appoints the city auditor, should cede some of that control to the mayor. It also comes as Dalal's office has more than 10 audits either under way or pending release.

In an interview, Dalal said he does not believe his work is being downplayed.

On whether to issue releases on audit reports, "this is City Council and the city administration's call," he said.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.