Ethics Review Committee determines city manager violated ethics policy

The El Paso Ethics Review Committee reviewing the ethics complaint filed against City Manager Tommy Gonzalez has determined Gonzalez violated the city’s ethics policy.

City Representative Jim Tolbert filed the complaint before voters elected him to serve the remainder of Larry Romero’s term.

Tolbert did not appear before the commission Wednesday. Romero, reprimanded by the city, resigned late last year after reportedly suffering a stroke.

The complaint regarded the repaving of streets in Romero’s district and the installation of speed humps on Stanton Street in front of Cathedral High School, Romero’s alma mater.

Romero removed certain streets from the list and allegedly added other streets, including the street directly in front of his home at the time and an alley. An investigation revealed the owners of a couple of businesses near the repaved alley donated money to Romero’s campaign.

Gonzalez told the commission speed humps were installed on Stanton street for safety at request of community members. The city manager told the commission this was an operational decision which has nothing to do with ethics.

Gonzalez presented video of council meetings he says shows members of city council asking for flexibility when it came to swapping or selecting streets for re-surfacing.

Special Counsel Ross Fischer provided an email the city manager was copied on, stating speed humps on Stanton Street were not recommended.

The commission voted to give Gonzalez a letter of admonishment for authorizing the placement of speed humps in violation of city protocol and a letter of notification will be delivered to him for authorizing pavement of an alley that should have remained unpaved.

The decision ends the case and no further action will be taken by city council.

Jim Darnell, Gonzalez’s attorney, said his client will appeal the decision. Gonzalez left the meeting without commenting on the decision.