ML20129G838

Partially Deleted, Rept of Interview W/J Brennan

ML20129G838
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/18/1996
From:	Teator J NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI)
To:
Shared Package
ML20129E434	List: IA-96-359, Partially Deleted, Rept of Interview W/Jj Hahn ML20129E429 ML20129E437 ML20129G581 ML20129G640 ML20129G644 ML20129G661 ML20129G689 ML20129G739 ML20129G751 ML20129G763 ML20129G769 ML20129G810 ML20129G833 ML20129G838 ML20129G842
References
FOIA-96-359 NUDOCS 9610030156
Download: ML20129G838 (5)

Text

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REPORT OF INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH BRENNAN The BRENNAN was interviewed by the reporting investigator.

Authority (NYPA), 123 On June 15, 1995, Nain St.,,was conducted under oath at the New York PowerBRE r

interview White Plains, NY.

BRENNAN w' born Hi al secur n/7 number i He r ide!

His home epione n

>er i s office num r s gl

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ith a Bachelor of Science in He graduated from Lehman Col ge ic Accountant in the State of New.

Ne has been a CertiffHe was hired by NYPA in February 1991 as the D Accounting.

York since 1978.

His supervisor is Robert G.

Internal Audit and remains in that position.

SCHOENBERGER, NYPA Chief Financial Officer.

BRENNAN said that he was approached by Lori STEINNE expense reports that had been submitted by Ulrich WITTE. revie the reports could be easily perceived as inappropriate and inaccurate and needed to be further reviewed. BRENNAN said that his department has the BRENNAN said that it is authority and responsibility to review such things.

within GILMARTIN's area of responsibility to bring such things to Department's attention.

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interview.

W E

BRENNAN said that one of WITTE's suspicious claims involved the purchase of a nine hundred dollar airline ticket for travel to the James A. FitzpatTick jg Nuclear Generating Station (JAF) with his corporate Diners Club card.

-e 28 WITTE lost the privilege of using his NYPA INVESTIGATOR'S NOTE:

American Express Card in 1992 due to abuse.

g 3-In his view, the Diners Club card is not to be used for employee travel, but55 it was decided that it would be available to WITTE for his travel nee

.e f BRENNAN said that WITTE purchased and received the ticket.BRDBIAN said that becau W5e gM an alternate way to JAF and did not use ticket.

WITTE had purchased the ticket with the Diners Club card, he was not

[$9a responsible for the payment of the bill because the NYPA Travel Department BRENNAN ccamented that an airline ticket is negotiable and

's;"t5 He believes the ticket was good for 12 months, and then it would ~ '

would be billed.

WITTE did not report the purchase of the ticket, or the worth money.

become null and void.

.BRENNAN fact that he did not use it on his expense report as he should have.

said that, at a minimum, WITTE should have attached the ticket or a copy of it, stating that he did not use it. BRENNAN said that the lack of documentation resulted in WITTE's supervisor being unafare'that the ticket had As a WITTE then held on to the ticket for over nine months.BRENNAN not been used.

result of the audit, BRENNAN found the ticket.

and GILMARTIN's interview of WITTE, GILMARTIN asked WITTC about the ticket.

/

WITTE did not know where the ticket was and was very vague and unclear about

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But, within forty eight hours, WITTE found and returned the BRENNAN said that the point was that, but for the au the ticket.

ticket.

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1 BRENNAN is not sure if WITTE had any ulterior would not have surfaced.

motives regarding the ticket, but thinks the problem resulted from WITTE'sBRENNAN sa inability to manage himself and his travel expenses.

ticket was not discovered ^during the audit, it would have resulted in NYPA BRENNAN said that the ticket issue was reviewed losing nine hundred dollars.

by Jerry LOUGHLIN of the NYPA Legal Department for possible disciplinaryBRENN action. No disciplinary action was taken.

WITTE's travel expense problems is that WITTE is not a good manager 9r well in control of his personal management.

BRENNAN opined that, as a manager, Witte's travel expense problems would have He raised a great deal of concern regarding WITTE's overall job performance.

opined that the situation needed to be taken very seriously, and disciplinary BRENNAN felt that, and corrective action should have been taken immediately.

if WITTE did not correct or improve his expense statements, then his Since then, however, no further termination could have been a solution.

travel expense report issues regarding WITTE have been brought to his attention.

BRENNAN was interviewed by NYPA Security Director John HAHN regarding WITTE's harassment claims, and does not feel the investigation into WITTE's travel was the result of WITTE being harassed or discriminated against for raising safety BRENNAN felt that NYPA management had the right to investigate and issues.

review WITTE's travel expense submittals.

ReportqdBy:

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4 Jeffre

. Teator, Investigator Office of Investigations Field Office, Region I 2

Case No. 1-95-019 6

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.-, Amns..ww : t 106vi i it1SC0 Memorandum I

1. > NewWrkPbwer 4# Authority CONFIDBmAL t

December 2,1M4 J8:64:94 TO:

H. J. Gimaron FROM:

J. J. P.rennan Director-Intemal Audit i

SUBJECT:

Egg -- - U. Witte 15.1994, you recuesteo Intemal Audit to review and evaluate eight expense and time sneers suomrtteo by Ulrich Witte for vanous. time genode from On Novemoer reports t$2.504.81)

It is our unoerstanding that one month prior to your August of 1993 to March of 1994.

request you were maos immeciste Supervisor to Mr. Witte and had asked all his expense reports current immeciately.

Authonty Amencan Express care was voiceo. Since March of 1993, Mr. Witte's a certain hotel guarantees are paso directly by the Authonty via the Corporate Di account.

Mr. Witte nas oeen empioveo at tne Autnanty ror approximately three years as a Config Programs Manager. His immeciate Sucervisor for 1993 and most of 1994 was A In general. Mr. Witte's requesteo reimoursements for hotels and meals are re is one example where virtually no reemoursement requests were made for a Fnda and Sunoay stavover to get a low airfare. Bere are severei examples to suppo travetieg was accomplishea mostly in evening nours.

On Decemoer 1.1994. a meet!ng witn '.ir. Witte and yourself was held to discus f ollowing issues.

1svame RP4 in Evaluation Mr. Witte's e).oense recorts are not suomitted wittun a reasonab Other than the

.ncurnng tne expenottures (severas were more than one year old).

A.

covious cifficulties in recarling vanous mneranes ano expenses, loss of receipts, i

tnis practice coes not adow ror *9e excenostures to be recorded in the right t me certoo.

Mr. Witte anoicated tnar expense recorts were not suomatted promptly becaus work ononties stating tnat ne works 50 hours5.787037e-4 days <br />0.0139 hours <br />8.267196e-5 weeks <br />1.9025e-5 months <br /> most weeks.

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i-d Fage 2 Mr. Witte's expense reports contam many inaccuracies such as reporung dates whic i

do not agree to itineraries or receipts (when submitted); differences between r=9 j

B.

incorrect miteegs and lack of I

.wmoursement and submrttee receipt amount:

l ts

t..molecon as to purpose of trio. Although these maccurecies are of smal amoun anc appear to not out to immstenal amounts, they show a lack of responestuirty to report exponettures accurately ano ia accorcance with Avewy Policy.

l Mr. Witte acknowledges that the reports were poorfy prepared and stated he reso them.

j Nine different meals totating $197.65 were reported for reimbursement wnhout a I

reouired receipt. One noret nignt for 866.00 was reported for reimbursement wnhout j

C.

j a receipt. Recuired receipts to suoport expenostures are Authority Pokcy.

Mr. Witte inoicated he pays casn fer everyrning and some meals are shared and costs t

He keeps tracx of his excencitures using a " simple money" software j

are split.

t program.

j Four different tnps were piannec anc booked for airline needs which were not tak D.

cr canceled. One canceslacon resultea in a 850.00 no snow fee non-refunaaole ticket for s tS7.00 ano cavment of $142.43 room guaranroe (not

ancereal: ano anotner tne icr 5904.00 was never taken and the' tic retumeo. This $904.00 ticyet was cniv cisclosec as a result of this review and may i

41,553.43.

j ce cartiativ recoveracte. 'he ootentras lost to tne Authonty is Mr. Witte exoressed concern regaroing tne wnerescouts of the 4904.00 unused stating ne mignt have returneo it tc tne Traves Dest via a secretary, howe He stateo booming and cancelling asfares is a f

con for it ano sovise you or Mrs result.

3 esult of his work senecute.

In one carticular Ino to Atlanta UNFO), Mr. Witte useo an entire work day to dr Atlanta t985 marest on June 24. 993. ?tiday tne 25th was recorood as vacsaan.

l iE.

The INPO meeting began on Moncav. June'23. June 29 and 30 were recorded a i

l work days to travel home. This is not an efficient use of time.

i Mr. Witte cio not recail tne meetmo acenoa. start or comolation tim iS sor.

tne time use was not erficient, newesor, stateo it was ore-approved by h s upervi

'.e review or Mr. Witte s time sneets for 1993 anc 1994 disclosed th i

ano many are missmg dates. Of paracular l

F.

ine '.veen's location

• as ccmcre!ec:cncern is tne time sneet for ween e j

inat inis time sneet was cometerec twitn ore-acoroval of his Managers to show fh days were vacation cavs and two noncavs cescite tne fact tnat two or three o t ese j

sctually worneo. The arrangement e.as ror Mr. Witte to take some offset d j

At tnts t me. :t ss uncrear exact!v now many days Mr. Witte l

r tnese oifferences.

he Fitzcatnck plant gate logs actuativ worneo tne ween enarno.anuary 1.1994.

29,1993 for 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />. 37 ecoroeo Mr. Witte en site en..eanesoav, Decemoer minutes. Mt. Witte has reauesteo -'*.ee ortset cays in 1994 (October 14. O l

1 ano August S).

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2 M

meH M O

Page3 Mr. Witte could not rememoer wny nis time sheet for week ending January 1,1994

.vas not como sted to reflect his recuired work. He stated that his time sheet was comoisted ano signed by a suboroinste. 'He felt they were changed and not done as ne remembereo. He renforceo that his Superusar was aware of this arrangement.

Mr. Witte's overal comments were he recognized the above deficiencies and would make sfforts to improve in the areas of expense reporting and time sheet properation.

~

Condumon Ocrrocuve accon must be taken with Mr. Witte to address the need to submrt his 1.

exoonse reports for tnps within a week of compiscon: to complete expense reports accurately to match his actual itinerary and busmess purposes: teatem and subrrut all recuireo reconots; ano to accurateiv complete all time sheets includeg task. locanon sno dates.

Disciolinary acnon with Mr. Witte may be appropnets to address the waste incurred 2.

as the result of his time management ano tno planning. Petermally over two days of

.vorn ano s1.553.43 in traves excenses were lost to the Authonty for the reports evieweo.

.:,cnon snouia ce taken to stoo Mr..*/itte's cracoce of offserung reported vacanon or 3.

The Authonty has no policy for such

vertime, etc. with future commitments.

cmoensanon time. Suen eiforts snouid be rewarded, in conjunction with the quairty Of work, via tne Authonty performance evaluation process.

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