The Hartford city council introduced legislation Monday calling for an audit of city-issued credit cards to be referred to the chief state’s attorney’s office. Hartford officials have been criticized for dining on the taxpayer’s dime, including a New Year’s Eve dinner of oysters and caviar.
The audit, completed by the city’s internal audit commission, recommended better oversight and enforcement of spending policies, and urged a ban on use of the cards for dining and entertainment. It also found that the city had more than $30,000 in unaccounted for charges at the end of fiscal year 2011-12.
The council’s legislation, drafted by Democrat David MacDonald, would refer the audit to the chief state’s attorney’s office to determine if any of the purchases or the process for reviewing them were criminal, members of the panel said Wednesday.
– Jenna Carlesso