A city department administrator violated at least four city policies by running her for-profit online magazine while on city time, an informal audit found.
The audit, released this morning, states there is an “appearance of impropriety” with Be Magazine, the online publication Department of Education, Arts and Culture Administrator Missy Crutchfield runs with department spokeswoman Melissa Turner.
City Auditor Stan Sewell states in his audit memo that running the magazine out of the department office possibly violates state law by having an implied contract between the city and the magazine, possibly violates the city’s nepotism policies and violates city code by using city resources for a personal venture.
Sewell also states Crutchfield and Turner violated city policy by not filling out a required outside employment form.
Sewell said he understands that the mayor had asked for all city references be taken off the magazine’s website. He said he also recommended that Turner either resign from her position as vice president of the magazine or resign from her post as Education, Arts and Culture spokeswoman.