Former A&P President's Attorney Says Credit Card Use Allowed
Last updated Monday, March 14, 2005 10:23 PM CST in News
By Kristin Netterstrom
The Morning News
BENTONVILLE -- The attorney for the former Bentonville's Advertising and Promotion Commission president said her client was authorized to use the organization's credit card and didn't do anything wrong.
Credit card statements released Friday show that Sam's Club statements went to Bernie Brugman's home in Rogers in January and February this year. Before and after that, the statements went to the commission's Bentonville address.
Statements dating back to November show purchases that appeared to be personal items not for commission use, such as men's socks, infant Tylenol and food. Someone charged hundreds of dollars' worth of food to the account. The $2,000 credit line has since been closed.
Brugman wasn't available for comment Friday, but his attorney responded Monday.
"Bernie is doing his best to move forward from this matter. He maintains that he has done nothing wrong and that any use of the Sam's Club card by him was authorized by commission representatives. There will be no further comment on this subject from Bernie Brugman," stated an e-mail from attorney Mary-Marsha Hardin, with Matthews, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure, Thompson, and Fryauf in Rogers.
Brian Burke, the commission's attorney, said Monday he could not comment on what the commission would do with the credit card balance or whether Brugman had made payments on the account.
Hardin said earlier Monday in a telephone interview that Brugman made a payment on the account last week.
Commission Chairman Jesse Pierce said Monday night that it was expected Brugman would pay off the card's balance. Pierce was out of town and didn't know whether the full payment had been made.
The credit card's March statement showed a $571.33 balance with a $7.95 finance charge and a $63 payment made Feb. 25, more than a week after Brugman quit. The statements don't say who made the purchases or payments.
Brugman resigned Feb. 14 after being suspended without pay for almost a month, pending an investigation. He said he resigned so he could take a position elsewhere.
An in-house inquiry by a commissioner and two-noncommissioners suggested misuse of credit cards but did not recommend pursuing the matter criminally. Committee members said there was a lack of accounting procedures. The commission's annual audit, released last week, suggested the panel have a better accounting system for credit card purchases and check payments.
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