A regional group that promotes communities around the Energy Department’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico says it has fixed weaknesses in its travel reimbursement policy and other financial procedures.
In a June 24 public meeting, Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) Executive Director Eric Vasquez outlined steps taken over the past year to address fiscal concerns raised in an August 2018 report from the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor.
The RCLC board, which includes representatives from nine member communities, has adopted controls that meet or exceed the state auditor’s recommendations, Vasquez said in the presentation. These include additional layers of review for travel and other expenditures, an expanded role for a third-party accountant, and plans to retain legal counsel.
Organization policy now specifically prohibits staff from buying gifts, meals, or entertainment for federal employees. The coalition has also opened a separate bank account for its Energy Department grant funding that cannot be used for lobbying or advocacy efforts. Local newspapers recently reported RCLC has not applied for a DOE federal grant in 2019.
The RCLC promotes funding for nuclear cleanup and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operations at LANL, as well as regional economic opportunities connected to the lab.
Vasquez, who became executive director in August 2018, is directly employed by CPLC New Mexico, which is responsible for his travel expenses. The regional coalition contracts with CPLC for executive director services.
In response to a citizen complaint over alleged misuse of public funds at the coalition, the auditor’s office reviewed financial issues at RCLC. In its August 2018 report, the state agency criticized both the RCLC board and former executive director Andrea Romero, now a state lawmaker, over reimbursements for expensive meals, alcoholic beverages, and tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game.
After serving as RCLC director since January 2015, Romero’s contract was not renewed at the end of February 2018. Romero repaid the disputed travel expenses, although she said everything was approved in advance by the RCLC board.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas launched an investigation into RCLC finances last year. In addition, the Energy Department’s Office of Inspector General is doing its own review, and said Monday it found no evidence that DOE employees improperly accepted meals and event tickets bought by RCLC.
