Glenn, Chapman ethics probes continue

By Bob Gambacurta

Two high profile ethics investigations may be coming to a head in the coming weeks. A very reliable source tells The Independent that the state Ethics Commission's findings against state environmental chief Trey Glenn may soon be presented to a Montgomery County grand jury. Meanwhile, the Ethics Commission staff may be nearing completion of its investigation into allegations against Secretary of State Beth Chapman and could present her case to the commission at its next meeting in August.

Glenn was director of the Office of Water Resources at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) before being named director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in January 2005. The complaint against Glenn alleges he violated the ethics law to get his job at ADEM and to obtain personal trips.

The complaint against Glenn was filed by ADECA Director Bill Johnson after Glenn left the agency for the environmental post. Records turned over to the Ethics Commission included invoices that Glenn approved for the Malcolm Pirnie engineering firm, while he was seeking the job at ADEM. Malcolm Pirnie is a long-time contractor with ADECA and Scott Phillips, a director of the firm, was chairman of the Environmental Management Commission which hired Glenn for ADEM.

The complaint also accused Glenn of using his position at the Office of Water Resources to obtain personal trips to Hilton Head, S.C., and to Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Glenn spent an hour and a half testifying before the Ethics Commission last year, before the commission voted 4-0 to refer his case to the Montgomery District Attorney's office. The Ethics Commission acts as a mini grand jury and can refer its findings either to the Alabama Attorney General or the Montgomery DA. The next step in the process would be for the DA's office to present its findings to a grand jury.

Neither District Attorney Ellen Brooks nor Ethics Commission Director James L. Sumner Jr. would comment on the status of the case.

Glenn's tenure at ADEM has been controversial. In addition to the ethics complaint, questions have been raised about Glenn accepting $310 worth of tickets, drinks and food at a Montgomery Biscuits' game from the Alabama Power Company. Questions have also been raised about ADEM's purchase of a $2.4 million airplane for use by Glenn and his staff. The airplane purchase came at a time when the agency is facing budget shortfalls of about $3 million in both this year's and next year's budgets.

Meanwhile, sources say the Ethics Commission staff continues to investigate two complaints against Republican Secretary of State Beth Chapman. One complaint, filed by Montgomery attorney Mark Montiel, also a Republican, alleges that Chapman may have violated the state law against using campaign funds for personal gain when she paid herself, her consulting company, her husband and her two children more than $95,000 from her campaign account between 2002 and 2007.

A second complaint may have been lodged against Chapman for receiving compensation from a Shelby County charity which receives state and county funding. Chapman's company continued to receive payments from the charity after she was elected State Auditor in 2002 and Secretary of State in 2006. Chapman has declined to discuss either allegation in any detail, but has denied any wrongdoing.

The Ethics Commission will not have a regular meeting in July. The next regular meeting is August 6.

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