The University twice previously has looked into allegations of impropriety in Facilities Management by Contracts Manager L.T. "Spike" Weeks and painting contractor John Sandalis, according to sources familiar with the investigations. These investigations previously had not been revealed.
Last month, The Cavalier Daily received a receipt from a Western Union money transfer that indicated Weeks had accepted $300 from John Sandalis, the former owner of Dalis Painting Inc., a company that contracts with the University.
Another receipt also obtained showed a $374.37 purchase from Davis TV and Appliances, made out to Weeks and paid for with a Dalis Painting check.
Both documents dated from 1992. Weeks has worked with the University for more than 20 years, and Sandalis began contracting with the University in 1990.
Such transactions represent a violation of contracting rules under the Commonwealth of Virginia Purchasing Manual for Institutions of Higher Education.
In a recent development, Ed Kirby, the owner of Rainbow Painting, said he complained about the relationship between Sandalis and Weeks last year. Kirby lost a job to paint Maury Hall to Dalis Painting last April.
Kirby said he sent a letter to Eric Denby, director of Procurement Services, Nov. 15, 2002. In the letter, Kirby said he thought his contract had been terminated unfairly.
"I sent copies of the Western Union" receipt and the Davis TV and Appliance receipt, Kirby said.
Kirby supplied The Cavalier Daily with a copy of Denby's response to his Nov. 15 letter, dated Dec. 3, 2002.
"I have thoroughly reviewed the contents of that letter and have concluded that your allegations are mistaken, without basis or false," Denby's letter said. "Accordingly, I have determined that no action in response to your letter would be appropriate, and none will be taken. This concludes this matter."
Denby said in January of this year, he had not previously investigated the matter and had not heard about it until it became public.
Denby did not return phone calls yesterday.
Sandalis also was investigated by the University sometime between 1995 and 1997 for impropriety involving Facilities Management, according to a source familiar with the investigation, who asked not to be identified.
"There was an investigation by U.Va. at that time for paying bribes for building inspectors," the source said. "I don't remember where it ended or how it ended."
Sandalis continued to contract with the University as owner of Dalis Painting until last year.
After Kirby made the allegations against Weeks and Sandalis public in January, the University began an investigation headed by Director of Audits Barbara Deily.
Since then, all calls seeking comment have been directed to University Spokesperson Carol Wood.
"The investigation is ongoing," Wood said. Investigations "do take time."
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