Broomfield council confronts misuse of p‑card, orders clearer rules and public reporting

Council members on the Broomfield City and County Council pressed for stronger oversight of elected officials’ purchasing‑card use after a council member acknowledged improper personal charges and said he has reimbursed the city.

The disclosure prompted public criticism during general comment and a lengthy council discussion Tuesday night, culminating in staff commitments to rewrite the p‑card agreement for elected officials, require notification to council when a violation occurs and to report improper uses at a public meeting.

The issue surfaced after Council Member Marshall Schon read a prepared statement apologizing and saying he had reimbursed charges he described as mistakes. Schon said reimbursements were submitted and that he had turned his p‑card in to staff. “At no time were public funds used improperly, and there was never an intention to use public funds improperly,” Schon told the council in his statement.

Public commenters criticized both the conduct and the council’s prior handling. Rick Fernandez, a founder of Broomfield Taxpayer Matters, said staff had to repeatedly request repayment and asked whether equivalent violations by an employee or manager would lead to termination. “When councilman Marshall Schon was notified by staff about the improper charges ... it took multiple attempts by staff ... for him to repay the amount owed,” Fernandez said.

Council members and staff described a gap between employee p‑card rules — which include progressive discipline up to termination — and the situation for elected officials, whom the body cannot discipline like employees. City and County Attorney Rogers told council the existing p‑card policy is written with employees in mind and explained staff are preparing an addendum and revised p‑card agreement tailored for council members. Rogers said the revisions would include a requirement that staff notify the city manager, city attorney and then council when there are issues with a council member’s expenditures.

Several council members said the changes must include public reporting. Mayor Castriada said the council would ask the attorney’s office to draft an agreement stipulating that improper uses of a p‑card will be reported to council at a public meeting and would result in immediate termination of p‑card privileges. “Reimbursement is not a justification for personal purchases on a p‑card,” the mayor said during the discussion.

Council discussed training and clarification of the expense policy and the p‑card handbook. Some councilors said existing rules were unclear for elected officials; others urged that council adopt internal measures to increase transparency, such as regular expense reports to the public. City staff said they will present the proposed council addendum and a revised p‑card agreement at a future public meeting.

Ending: The council stopped short of a formal disciplinary action beyond the suspension and voluntary return of the card by the member involved, but the body voted unanimously to pursue written policy changes and public notification procedures so future violations will be handled publicly and consistently.