The Dallas City Council voted on Wednesday to pass a resolution to impose sanctions against Juan Gamez, a former Dallas Water Utilities crew leader who was found to have violated multiple sections of the Dallas City Code of Ethics.
Thomas Perkins, vice chair of the Ethics Advisory Commission (EAC), said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting that Gamez allegedly “misrepresented his time on certain days and times” to receive additional pay from his work.
The Inspector General Division filed an ethics complaint with the City Secretary’s Office against Gamez on April 21, alleging eight violations of Dallas City Code Chapter 12A.
A panel of the EAC held an evidentiary hearing on June 26 in the City Council briefing room to discuss the allegations and determine what sanctions should be recommended.
Commissioners Perkins (Panel Chair), Grant Schmidt, Jadd Masso, Susan Bowman, and Juan Garcia made up the panel, according to the written decision from the complaint.
The panel agreed that Gamez violated Sec.12A-3, which states, “A city official and employee, in the performance of that person’s official duties, shall fulfill the city official’s and employee’s fiduciary duty to the city.”
Gamez was also found to have violated Sec.12A-4(a)(4), which states that a City official and employee is required “To be a responsible steward of the taxpayer resources.”
Finally, the panel found that Sec.12A-4(a)(5) was violated, which states City officials and employees are “To take no actions that could benefit the official or employee personally at the unwarranted expense of the city, avoiding even the appearance of a conflict of interest, and to exercise prudence and good judgment at all times.”
The five other allegations against Gamez were dismissed by the panel during the evidentiary hearing.
The panel then recommended that “the city council impose the sanctions of reprimand and referral for damages or injunction,” according to the written decision.
Perkins answered questions regarding the case from multiple city council members at the meeting before the resolution was voted on.
The council voted to pass the resolution, which states that Gamez will receive a “reprimand for conduct violating Dallas City Code Sections 12A-3, 12A-4(a)(4), and 12A-4(a)(5).”
The resolution, which takes effect immediately, also states that the case will now be “referred to the city attorney for an action to recover damages to the city or to enjoin prohibited actions.”
