Philly enforcing rule against city workers holding two government jobs

Philadelphia’s inspector general has found a baker’s dozen of part-time workers on the city payroll in violation of the city charter.

The 13 assistant recreation leaders, who have been let go fired or have resigned, were  also working for other government agencies. Inspector General Amy Kurland says the city is taking a strict view of the Home Rule Charter, which says an employee cannot work for two government agencies at the same time.

“This has been enforced sometimes, and sometimes not, throughout the years, and it was our view that we should be enforcing the Home Rule Charter equally across all departments,” Kurland said Thursday. “So we got an opinion from the law department and the law department officially said city employees may not hold second jobs in another government agency.”

The workers were mostly school teachers and a few postal workers.

“There was no misconduct involved with these employees,” she said. “It was just determined that you can’t work for two government agencies.”

City officials are not sure they have found everyone violating the policy and intend to continue their review.

“Oh, I think that there are many people still out there,” Kurland said. “We have requested the controller’s office to participate in the investigation and try to compare the payrolls of the school district and the city. We want to make sure the law is applied evenly.”

The city controller is cooperating.