"It is not very often that we look forward to participate in an investigation done by the Ohio Attorney General's Office." it said.
The board's chairman advisory committee is also setting up a process where, over the next several months, the board will "examine a wide range of governance, policy and protocol issues to ensure that all appropriate financial safeguards are in place," Shumate said. "The board has engaged a forensic auditor to delve into questions that were beyond the scope of the Porter Wright investigation." "The board is committed to continuing its work to address the findings in this report," Shumate, the zoo board's chairman, said in his statement. The firm has suggested the zoo review its policies regarding competitive bidding of contracts, ethics and conflict of interest consider separating the function of chief executive officer from chief operating officer, as Stalf served in both positions and review its auditing procedures and rotate its auditors periodically.Ĭolumbus Zoo resignations: Who is new interim director Jerry Borin? Porter Wright's investigation is ongoing. The zoo is a taxpayer-supported nonprofit organization that receives levy support from Franklin County taxpayers. The levy money accounted for about 20% of the zoo’s overall revenue of nearly $92 million in 2019. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to investigate Columbus Zoo amid top resignations Columbus Zoo won't share investigation details Commissioners call for transparency Top Columbus Zoo officials resign following Dispatch investigation Columbus Zoo reviewing use of zoo-owned houses for family of executives Columbus Zoo executives may face investigation from Ohio Ethics Commission "We have evaluated investigatory reports for the past 28 years and it is evident that this report was published under pressure from the media." Fair investigations are not based on the number of witnesses interviewed, but rather the actual interviews of firsthand witnesses who were involved in the actual transactions," it reads. Rather, fair investigations delve deep into each detail to determine the truth. "Fair investigations do not start with two scapegoats and work backwards to get their desired results. Mark Collins and Rex Elliott, Columbus attorneys representing Stalf, sent The Dispatch a statement Wednesday morning criticizing the Porter Wright report. “Greg Bell is committed to reimbursing the zoo for funds expended on tickets and income lost as a result of favorable rental agreements," Sam Shamansky, Bell's lawyer, told The Dispatch on Tuesday night. It also interviewed Stalf and Bell twice, who were represented by attorneys. The firm interviewed zoo employees, former employees and some third parties, according to its report. Over a period of two weeks, Porter Wright interviewed 20 witnesses and reviewed hundreds of pages of internal zoo documents. It appears it went to The Wilds just once. The zoo sold the vehicle this year for $37,000 and Stalf didn't reimburse the zoo for its use. Instead, the vehicle was stored at an offsite location or Stalf's home. The recreational vehicle purchased for Stalf cost $45,000 and was intended for him to use to attend events at The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation park the zoo manages in Muskingum County.The zoo traded admission tickets to Zoombezi Bay, its water park, in exchange for golf memberships for Stalf and Bell at the Wedgewood Country Club, an arrangement that ended last week.The zoo sold the other home earlier this year. The amount Bell's daughter paid to live in a three-bedroom, 1,344-square-foot home near the zoo wasn't disclosed, but the report said the zoo paid for utilities, taxes and maintenance. Stalf's in-laws paid $900 a month to live in a three-bedroom, 1,336-square-foot home on the Northwest Side. Stalf and Bell arranged for family members to live in homes owned or controlled by the zoo for years and set the rental prices, another finding from the Dispatch's investigation.In one instance, Bell admitted he caused the zoo to obtain approximately 60 tickets from the Columbus Blue Jackets so his son, who is also a contractor at the zoo, could attend games with his friends.They did not specify in documentation who attended events with them or whether they reimbursed the zoo for these expenses, which included food and drinks. The investigation confirmed what the Dispatch uncovered: For years, Stalf and Bell sought tickets paid for by the zoo's marketing department so their family members could attend various entertainment events for free.In an emailed statement, board Chairman Keith Shumate confirmed the zoo has engaged with a forensic auditor. On Tuesday, Porter Wright suggested the zoo undertake a forensic audit to determine any money that Stalf, Bell and their families should reimburse the zoo.
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