El Monte’s city council is investigating roughly $50,000 spent on City Treasurer Jerry Velasco since a car accident in November.
Councilwoman Norma Macias said the council and the city attorney were never notified about Velasco’s workers’ compensation claim prior to approval.
“I think the way it was handled is frankly a disservice to Mr. Velasco,” Macias said. “Their basic work, not following policies and procedures, is calling into question how this came to a conclusion. They didn’t consult with the city attorneys … I don’t believe that they asked people for any information.”
She said former City Manager Raul Godinez , who resigned in May, approved the contract. She said she learned about the approval after the San Gabriel Valley Tribune requested documents related to the workers’ compensation claim. The city did not release the information for two months.
El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero, a friend and political ally of Velasco, said he supports an investigation, as long as it isn’t politically motivated.
“I think what they’re trying to do is to create a political issue, when really we should be focusing on the legal aspects of this situation and making sure that the staff did their due diligence and that the claims were approved properly,” he said, noting no results have been produced yet.
Velasco announced last week that he plans to run for city council in the November election against Councilman Bart Patel and Councilwoman Victoria Martinez.
The elected treasurer receives an annual salary of $7,224, according to El Monte’s finance department. The payments covered medical costs, disability, insurance reimbursements and his salary and more costs are expected, according to the city attorney’s office.
“I’m surprised, but they have a right to ask,” Velasco said Tuesday of the investigation. “I don’t know who approved it, all I know is that I got a letter saying that I was accepted, I don’t even know what the process is — I don’t.”
Velasco spent roughly three months recovering from three broken ribs, a broken leg and a punctured lung, he said in an earlier interview.
He noted at the time that he probably stayed longer than physically necessary, but that he felt he needed the extra care he could not get at home.
Velasco said Tuesday he forwards his bills to his attorney and that he does not know how much the city has paid on his behalf.
According to police, Velasco and another driver collided about 8:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the intersection of Cogswell and Lower Azusa Road. The crash badly injured Velasco, who had to be extricated from his sedan. The city treasurer was returning from the graduation of the El Monte Police Department Citizen’s Academy. On a workers’ compensation claim form dated Nov. 24, Velasco listed the time of the accident as 6:30 p.m. and indicated he was on his way to the event. A second form corrected the time.
The police department did not test Velasco’s blood alcohol level or request such tests from LA County USC Medical Center, according to Sgt. Jimmie Pitts.
Councilman Bart Patel questioned whether Velasco qualified for workers’ compensation as the crash occurred after what he called a private event put on by the police department. The councilman attended the graduation at the El Patio Bar & Grill that preceded Velasco’s crash.
“It was an invite-only event for family and friends who were supporting their loved ones who were graduating from the class,” Patel said. “I don’t think there is any expectation for a city treasurer to be at an event like this.”
While Patel is listed on the event’s program, Velasco is not. The city treasurer does appear in several pictures from the presentation.
Velasco said he was invited to represent the city, as no other city officials planned to attend.
“I was there doing a favor for the city and I thought it was covered,” he said. “I almost got killed. I thank God every day, I thank people every day for their prayers, that I’m alive.”
