Austin KEYE TV: Investigates City Building Inspectors |
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 |
Investigates Follow Up: Austin addresses city inspectors issues
One of the scandals that rocked Austin City Hall recently was a KEYE investigation into how some city building inspectors spend their time on the clock and use city take-home vehicles. The story sparked a city investigation, calling for a closer watch on workers. Austin "I think that the behavior that I witnessed in the news coverage was absolutely disturbing and unacceptable,â City Manager Mark Ott said. âSo we're very focused on making sure that that kind of behavior doesn't occur in the future -- and people are focused on doing their job and doing a full day's work."
Investigates Follow Up: Austin addresses city inspectors issues
CBS 42 Reporter: Rebecca Taylor
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2/18/09
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Takes Action On City Inspectors Issues
One of the scandals that rocked Austin City Hall recently was a KEYE investigation into how some city building inspectors spend their time on the clock and use city take-home vehicles.
A KEYE investigative team caught some inspectors spending city time during the workday at a bowling alley. The story sparked a city investigation, calling for a closer watch on workers.
Austin "I think that the behavior that I witnessed in the news coverage was absolutely disturbing and unacceptable,â City Manager Mark Ott said. âSo we're very focused on making sure that that kind of behavior doesn't occur in the future -- and people are focused on doing their job and doing a full day's work."
Taxpayers were outraged when the story showed some city building inspectors spending time at a bowling alley and a barbecue restaurant. |
Workers were found spending several
hours a day at Dart Bowl in North Austin.
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City of Austin responds to CBS 42 Investigation
| The investigation also showed how taxpayer dollars were funding some city inspectors' commutes outside the city limits even outside the county using take-home vehicles.
This is one of the trucks a City of Austin
employees is allowed to drive to and from work.
City officials confirm they plan to install GPS monitoring devices in all inspectors' vehicles so they know where they are at all times.
The take-home vehicle policy has undergone drastic change following the report. The city now says more than 33 inspectors and a handful of supervisors had their take-home vehicles taken away.
Ott also said some inspectors were reprimanded following that report. But he would not go into specifics on any disciplinary action.
http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/investigates/story/austin-city-building-inspectors/0Ys5O_v7OEanMp2pzgwhKA.cspx |