By Brooke Springer
Staff Writer
September 5, 2006
STAMFORD -- The Board of Finance's Audit Committee wants to know whether city managers are surfing the Internet inappropriately.
Finance board member Joseph Tarzia suggested last week the city use its special audit this year to look at how city managers, specifically in the operations department, use the Internet.
"I think it would be of interest to see how some of these city managers use their time, especially since some of them are off-site," Tarzia said. "I don't want to pay time-and-a-half for them to play poker."
Tarzia said he has reason to believe there is misuse of Internet privileges by city employees, but would not be more specific.
As part of the city's yearly financial statement audit, the Board of Finance can choose one additional audit requiring about 40 hours of work by the outside auditing firm.
In the past, for example, the auditors have reviewed police department overtime.
City Director of Administration Ben Barnes said an Internet-use audit is "not especially in keeping" with previous internal audits performed by the outside auditing firm, McGladrey & Pullen, which is hired each year to check the city's finances.
"In my view, if someone is inappropriately using the Internet at work that is a personnel matter," Barnes said Friday. "I don't know why we would hire an accountant for that. If Mr. Tarzia knows of someone who is misusing city resources on the job I think it's incumbent upon him to report that."
Michael Pensiero, the city's technology management service director, said there have been cases of Internet abuse by employees that he's not "at liberty to discuss." He said he does not know of any employees who have lost Internet privileges.
Nancy Markey, human resources assistant director, acknowledged cases of Internet abuse by city employees, but would not provide details because the city's legal department is reviewing personnel files for disciplinary actions in response to a Freedom of Information request The Advocate filed Thursday.
"There are ways to collect how much time a city employee spends online and you could possibly drill down to Web sites as well," Pensiero said Thursday.
Virtually all of the 6,500 city computers -- 1,500 used by city employees, 5,000 used by Board of Education personnel -- are equipped with Internet access, Pensiero said, because employees need the Internet for their work. For example, the Board of Education has an individualized student program which is entirely Web-based, Pensiero said.
According to the city's technology policy, use of the Internet is "restricted to business use of the city only," but "incidental personal use . . . which is not inconsistent with this policy, is permitted." It also states that the city can monitor employees' use of the Internet at any time without warning.
"Users who use the Internet for indecent, vulgar, harassing, fraudulent, intimidating or other unlawful purposes, or who visit Web sites that contain such material, are subject to discipline, up to and including termination," the policy states.
It restricts employees from sending chain letters, jokes and materials or messages containing sexual innuendo.
The policy states that "while users cannot always control what material they receive, users who do receive any such referenced material from any other user or third party must not retransmit or forward such material to any other person and shall immediately notify the city's director of information services and the director of legal affairs."
Pensiero said he has heard about the suggested audit, but "no one has talked about moving forward or put in an official request yet."
If directed to help with the audit, Pensiero said he and his 27-member staff "would help out however we can."
"I think it's a worthwhile exercise if we can figure out the right way to do it," Board of Finance Audit Committee Chairman Timothy Abbazia said at the board's Aug. 28 meeting, where Tarzia raised the idea. Abbazia and Tarzia are the only two members of the committee.
Barnes said for him to instruct McGladrey & Pullen to move forward on the audit, he must be officially notified by the full Board of Finance.
McGladrey & Pullen must complete the financial statement audit by Sept. 30, according to the city charter. The special audit could be completed at a later date.
The city is in the midst of auditing the Glenbrook Fire Department, police department workers compensation claims, building permits and capital spending.
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