SHREVEPORT, La. – A Shreveport town council member, who requested the state auditor to perform an investigative audit of the city’s Finance Division, has been eradicated from his position as chairman of the council’s Audit and Finance Committee.
John Nickelson made the ask for Thursday morning to Legislative Auditor Michael J. Waguespack.
About 30 minutes later, Nickelson was stripped of his committee chairmanship by new council Chairman James Eco-friendly. Nickelson held the title for 3 yrs.
In a social media publish, Nickelson stated, “I appreciate Shreveport. I’ve offered my constituents and our metropolis 110 % considering the fact that I was elected in 2018. But loving Shreveport is just not enough. We all have to struggle for Shreveport – and we have to do anything in our electrical power to make certain 8 intelligent, skilled, straightforward people today are elected to guide the city in the fall 2022 elections. Our potential is dependent on it.”
The ask for to Waguespack will come 3 times just after the city’s former controller alleged feasible illegalities in the city’s funds and accounting. Ben Hebert, 85, claimed he was fired in December just after he brought these problems to the attention of his supervisors, together with Kasey Brown, who is the interim main economic officer.
Similar REPORT: Former Shreveport controller alleges ‘financial improprieties’ by town officials
Hebert alleges age and racial discrimination in his dismissal and claimed he strategies to file match by week’s finish.
In his letter, Nickelson cited Hebert’s termination.
“Final thirty day period, the city’s interim chief financial officer unceremoniously fired the city’s controller, Ben Hebert, with no recognize to all council users. Mr. Hebert, a licensed public accountant and a licensed fraud examiner, has created a large selection of allegations regarding incompetence and malfeasance in the Finance Office. These allegations from a previous member of the city’s management group are severe and simply call into concern the department’s capability to administer general public funds. They involve a entire, good and clear investigation that only your business can give.”
Nickelson integrated with his letter the assertion Hebert made Monday throughout a news conference.
Some of the allegations from Hebert and his attorney, Allison Jones, contains:
- The town fails to comply with founded accounting methods.
- The metropolis unsuccessful to meet IRS and condition earnings time constraints.
- The town usually did not spend its credit score cards on time.
He also raised thoughts about Mayor Adrian Perkins’ travels. Hebert reported some of the cost stories do not include itemized receipts for expenses, very little or no description of the objective or positive aspects derived for the metropolis from the vacation and other irregularities.
Hebert suggests he refused to take part in what he felt had been violations of condition legislation. He thinks he was also handed over for a marketing simply because of his age and his race.
Jones states she will be filing problems with the EEOC and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.
In response to Nickelson’s connect with for a condition auditor probe, Adrian Perkins mentioned in a composed assertion, “The Town of Shreveport undergoes an internal and external audit on a yearly basis. If the Point out has the sources to perform an extra audit, we welcome it. I’m always looking at methods for our Finance Department to be more powerful.”
The city explained for the reason that of pending litigation it could not comment on Hebert’s allegations.
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