Trustees Consider New Travel Rules
Ventura County Community College District trustees are considering altering the district’s travel rules, the first re-examination of travel procedures since a trustee was sentenced to jail two years ago for misusing travel and other district funds.
“I would call this clarifying, and a strengthening of the controls,” said Jeff Marsee, the district’s vice chancellor of administrative services.
The board overhauled the district’s travel procedures in 1991 while former board President James T. (Tom) Ely was on trial for embezzlement. He was convicted of bilking $15,000 from the college district by padding expense accounts.
The proposed new policy, for instance, specifies that travel requests from the college presidents, district office and trustees can only be approved by the district chancellor or a chancellor’s designee. Previously, unclear language made it appear that the college presidents might approve their own travel requests or those of trustees.
Board President Gregory P. Cole said he planned to review the guidelines carefully before the trustees take them up for a final vote next month.
“We’ve had such problems in the past,” he said, “and so I’m very concerned about any loosening of policy and any potential for abuse.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
