In light of the controversy over the manager’s recent alcohol purchases, the Oxford Village Council last week voted unanimously to send its credit card policy back to the attorney for review.
‘I would like to see some much more specific limitations and definitions of the limitations on the use of the credit card,? said Councilwoman Teri Stiles, who made the motion.
Council discussed and debated Manager Joe Young’s use of the village credit card to purchase alcoholic beverages for members of the Downtown Development Authority’s Economic Restructuring (ER) Committee during at least two meetings.
‘Joe was instructed by me, since there (are) monies available (in the DDA budget), that it would be an acceptable expense to do this,? DDA Chairman Kevin Stephison told council.
At an Oct. 4, 2006 ER meeting at Victoria’s Delights, Young used his village card to purchase $21 worth of wine on a $30 bill. He used the card again at a Nov. 1 ER meeting to purchase $37 worth of alcohol on a $60 bill at Red Knapp’s American Grill.
Young’s card was also used to pay a $109 bill at Casa Real for a Dec. 6 ER meeting/holiday gathering. It’s believed alcohol was also charged on that bill, however exactly how much is not known as an itemized receipt is not available.
Alcohol purchases appear to violate the village’s credit card policy adopted by council in September 2005.
‘The card shall not be used for personal use, cash advances, the purchase of standard merchant category exclusions (e.g. liquor or tobacco items), or for the purchase of any type of personal entertainment,? the policy states.
Young has since voluntarily repaid the DDA $150 as reimbursement for all the alcohol purchases.
Village President George Del Vigna said he didn’t believe that sentence in the policy was clear as to exactly what type of alcohol purchases are prohibited.
‘It doesn’t say beverage alcohol, it just says liquor,? he said. ‘To me, that’s very wide open, it could mean a lot of things. It could mean going down to the 7-Eleven, picking up a bottle of Captain Morgan’s.?
‘This was in conjunction (with) a (DDA committee) meeting,? Del Vigna explained. ‘To me, if you take somebody to dinner and they order a glass of wine, to me that’s in conjunction with dinner, it’s not separate.?
Del Vigna noted how the DDA budget includes a line item for ‘volunteer development? and since the ER committee is comprised of volunteers who work hard for no pay, taking them out for dinner with drinks is ‘reasonable.?
As for the sentence in the credit card policy pertaining to alcohol, the village president said, ‘I would like for it to be rewritten because it doesn’t state how it should be used.?
Councilman Chris Bishop completely disagreed with Del Vigna’s interpretation. He believes Young’s actions did violate the policy.
‘I read this credit card policy and I find it quite clear,? he said. ‘What concerns me is our need to justify not following policy.?
Bishop said it doesn’t matter that the DDA chairman directed Young to use the card or that it was used for a DDA committee meeting.
‘The DDA, regardless of direction, unfortunately cannot direct someone to use the village credit card in any way, shape or form. Period. This is the village credit card,? he said.
Bishop noted he’s not blaming the ER committee and he appreciates the volunteers? hard work.
‘What I’m finding fault with is we have administration with our credit card under our policies not following them,? the councilman said.
‘So what do you do if you’re at dinner and somebody orders a glass of wine?,? Del Vigna asked.
‘Tell’em you can’t pay for it,? Bishop retorted.
Del Vigna said that ‘undoes the good will? between the village and its volunteers.
Village Clerk/Treasurer/Assistant Manager Christine Burns said the ER committee members ‘know going in it’s a volunteer situation.?
‘They don’t do it for the beverages and the food,? she said.
Burns said she contacted Kerry Vaughn at the Michigan State Treasury Department and asked him about the situation.
‘He reiterated that if we are not allowed to purchase coffee and donuts for personnel that alcohol would be a logical exclusion of a lawful purchase,? she told council. ‘While it does not specifically state alcohol is not an allowable purchase, he said it’s not unreasonable and a court would not find it unreasonable that if you cannot purchase coffee and sandwiches, you cannot purchase alcohol.?
In light of this, Burns told the council, ‘I will no longer sign accounts payable checks for items which the state deems as unlawful or which specifically violate village policy. Should a check be presented to me for signature, I will refer it to the village president for his signature. This alleviates me from future negative ramifications.?
Councilman Bishop asked what’s going to happen to Young with regard to credit card policy’s ‘penalty for wrongful use,? which reads, ‘Any employee of the Village of Oxford who violates the provisions of this policy shall be subject to immediate suspension and/or dismissal and appropriate criminal and/or civil action.?
‘You can’t selectively choose who you’re going to enforce it for. That’s the concern about this,? he said. ‘What happens the next time somebody goes out and does something that everybody up here and in the audience does think is egregious (like) buys a case of beer. Can we choose to enforce it that time, but not this time??
Del Vigna said ‘that’s a whole different ballgame? than paying for drinks with dinner.
The village president reiterated that’s why he wants the policy reviewed by the attorney and some of the wording rewritten to ‘make it airtight.?
‘To me, it’s not airtight,? he said. ‘You see it one way, I see it another way.?