Port Arthur has another tool to assist in finding and weeding out unethical city employees.

Starting this week, city employees, or anyone for that matter, who may suspect wrongdoing at the city level can call a fraud hotline and report their suspicions anonymously.

“We are going to follow up on every lead we get,” City Manager Brian McDougal said.

The city’s new Ethics Hotline Policy outlines how the whistleblowing procedure works.

Serious concerns related to financial reporting, unethical or illegal conduct should be reported by calling the ethics hotline phone, visiting the vendor’s website, e-mailing or fax, according to the policy.

Reports can be made in the following ways:

• English speaking USA and Canada 844-703-0002
• Spanish speaking USA and Canada: 800-216-1288
• Website: www.lighthouse-services.com/portarthurtx
• E-mail: reports@lighthouse-services.com (must include company name with report.)
• Fax alternative for written documents: 215-689-3885 (must include company name with report.)

The hotline is not meant for employment-related concerns. Those concerns should continue to be reported through normal channels such as an employee’s supervisor or Human Resources.

Although the individual making the report is not expected to prove allegations, they should be able to demonstrate in their hotline report that there are sufficient grounds for concern.

The action taken will depend on the nature of the concern.

The individual submitting a report will be given the opportunity to receive a follow-up on their concern.

McDougal said the hotline was established after the city’s auditor made the suggestion.

“It is real inexpensive to have this firm do it for us, they just turn the calls over to my office,” McDougal said. “This is just another opportunity for the city employees to let us know if something is not right. If somebody is doing something, not providing services to the city, or stealing, we want to know about it.”

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