A new report from the New Mexico State Auditor’s Office faults both the board of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) and the organization’s former executive director for not complying with state standards on reimbursement of mileage and other expenses for public officials.
This is the latest twist in a controversy that arose after the auditor’s office in January received a letter from a member of the public alleging misuse of public funds by the RCLC, a group designated to advocate for communities around the Energy Department’s Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Finance and Administration Department approved an agreement creating the regional organization in October 2011.
“The Executive Director [Andrea Romero] was not authorized to bill for or be reimbursed for any meal expense for third parties, including Board Members, entertainment expenses or expense for alcohol,” according to the Aug. 7 report. “Additionally, it would be inappropriate for the RCLC to have reimbursed the Executive Director for any meals that may have been provided to DOE employees in violation of federal rules.”
The auditor said RCLC had reimbursed Andrea Romero Consulting and JLH Media for more than $2,600 for alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, and entertainment or recreation fees in violation of its own travel policy and state law. While the RCLC did not concur with all auditor findings, it said in the report it has taken steps to remedy the situation.
In late February, the board chose not to renew the executive director contract for Andrea Romero Consulting after about five years. A review directed by the RCLC board questioned whether Romero should have been reimbursed for money spent on alcoholic drinks and a baseball game in Washington, D.C.
After departing the RCLC post, Romero in June won a Democratic primary election for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Romero has also repaid some costs to the RCLC. In late July, Eric Vasquez, of the firm CPLC New Mexico, was named the new RCLC chief.
“I welcome the findings of the audit, which confirms what was already known — that there were errors made by me, RCLC Board members, and Los Alamos County concerning the reimbursements in question,” Romero said in a statement Tuesday to the Associated Press. “I did not knowingly or deliberately violate any standard for reimbursement.”
