El Paso County Commissioner: UMC’s Valenti denied getting bonus in Aug. email
El Paso County Commissioner Carlos Leon on Monday said University Medical Center CEO Jim Valenti was not truthful when Leon asked for a list of bonuses for Valenti’s staff.
“He was less than candid with that information and i’m sitting down with the county attorney to see what direction we need to take,” Leon said.
In the August email, Leon asked Valenti for a list of all the most recent bonuses awarded, the amount, date and names of the recipients.
On August 15, Valenti responded to Leon: “Hello Commissioner Leon. There were not bonuses paid in 2014 and we expect no bonuses through this year. Would you like to review the bonuses paid in 2013?”
Leon said this further erodes Commissioners trust in Valenti because it proves he’s been untruthful.
“This is not true. He was less than candid with me in that in formation. As commissioners we make decisions on their budget and if Mr. Valenti is not as candid as he should be than it makes hard – we’re going to make it skeptical of the information he’s providing us knowing that he’s provided false information in the past,” Leon said.
The UMC board has said the $300,000 in bonuses, which included $120,000 for Valenti were budgeted, but Commissioners have said the UMC board never brought up the bonuses during the budget sessions. On ABC-7 Xtra Sunday night, County Commissioner Vince Perez said he did not find out about the bonuses until he saw media reports.
UMC’s Director of Public Relations, Margaret Althoff-Olivas, said Valenti was out of town all week.
William Hanson, UMC’s Board Chair sent a statement Monday evening stating Valenti’s comments were “factually inaccurate.”
In the email, Hanson stated he would meet with the UMC board to thoroughly discuss the matter. “In fairness to Mr. Valenti, we do need to speak to him directly on this matter,” Hanson wrote.
The UMC Board will also convene its Compensation Committee to review bonus practices and make adjustments going forward plus meet with Commissioners Court to understand their concerns, according to Hanson’s statement.
Perez has said the UMC’s board has not property communicated its financial status to Commissioners Court. Commissioners Court sets the budget for UMC but the UMC board evaluates and establishes compensation for Valenti.
