[StBernard] St. Bernard recreation department employee suspended pending investigation

[Westley Annis]

maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but upon taking office, the Peralta
Administration and the current council both set out to review all
departments of parish government.  It's a long time coming.  However, and
maybe I am wrong, but I get the feeling that the ladies with the civic
auditorium and the recreational center maybe scape-goats for a larger,
systematic problem.  time will tell
.........................................

	"After some questionable activities in the civic auditorium and
after some
	questionable activities in the transit department, I took it upon
myself to
	look at each and every department and we have uncovered some issues
in
	recreation about one person," Peralta said.
	

 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
St. Bernard recreation department employee suspended pending investigation
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Email the author | Follow on
Twitter on August 07, 2014 at 4:55 PM, updated August 07, 2014 at 4:57 PM
 
A St. Bernard Parish recreation department employee has been suspended
pending an investigation into possible financial improprieties, St. Bernard
President Dave Peralta confirmed on Thursday.

"There is now a Legislative Auditor investigation along with the St. Bernard
Parish Sheriff's Office that could be related to some missing funds,"
Peralta said. "We are providing them with everything they need to complete a
full investigation."

Peralta said his administration "turned over questionable paperwork" to
state legislative auditors on Thursday.

Rachel Turnage, the department's office manager, was suspended without pay
on Friday (Aug. 1), Peralta said.

"It is an indefinite suspension pending the investigations from the
Louisiana Legislative Auditor and the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office," Peralta
said. "If it turns out that she did nothing wrong, she will be returned and
will receive back pay."

Peralta would not get into the details of the financial irregularities.  

The move comes after a state legislative audit report last month stated that
at least $98,105 in bus fares was collected but not deposited in the
parish's bank account.

That audit pointed to three transit department employees who had access to
the funds. Each of them had retired or resigned since the audit began in
March.

There also is an ongoing legislative audit of the parish civic center.

The Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center's executive director, Stephanie
Bachemin, was suspended in February and then later fired in March after
parish officials suspected her of stealing funds.

"After some questionable activities in the civic auditorium and after some
questionable activities in the transit department, I took it upon myself to
look at each and every department and we have uncovered some issues in
recreation about one person," Peralta said.

Turnage did not immediately return calls on Thursday for comment.