By Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD – A former grants and special projects administrator for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs violated several rules, including accepting gifts from grantees, engaging in conflicts of interest and misusing state time and resources. That’s according to the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General.
Former IDVA employee Kevin Cavanaugh was responsible for monitoring compliance of grant recipients, a task the OEIG investigative report says he failed. The OEIG report also says Cavanaugh admitted to accepting numerous gifts from United Cerebral Palsy Foundation including multiple free tickets to three consecutive annual fundraisers. Cavanaugh also received gifts totaling over $600 in golf equipment and benefit dinners from RevelationGolf.
During the investigation, OEIG says Cavanaugh resigned from his position. The report recommends Cavanaugh not be hired for state employment again.
The report also says several IDVA employees found ways to circumvent competitive hiring procedures for an extended period of time. The inspector general says several staffers violated the state’s code concerning personnel by allowing emergency appointments to be renewed.
OEIG recommends several other employees still employed be counseled on the proper rules and policies concerning emergency appointments. The report does say that allegations of nepotism were unfounded.
