City to fire manager who billed for work he didn't do

A Fairmount Park supervisor accused of spending more time at home than at work, as documented by a local TV news crew, has been suspended and will be fired, Mayor Nutter said yesterday.

Building supervisor Thomas Nace, 50, a 27-year city employee, was suspended Thursday without pay for 30 days, Nutter said. After that, Nutter said, the city intends to fire Nace for "theft of time and general failure to complete his duties."

The city also will seek repayment for work hours that Nace, whose annual salary is $51,128, allegedly cheated the city out of.

Calls to Nace's home were not returned last night.

Nace was the subject of a June 27 report on Fox 29 that showed him spending hours at home when he was supposed to be at work, and buying beer in his city truck.

"This kind of activity is a disgrace to all other employees and will not be tolerated," Nutter said.

Nace's problems do not end there. He was served notice of his suspension Thursday in the city jail following his arrest this week on unrelated drug-dealing and drug-possession charges.

City Inspector General Amy Kurland subpoenaed footage from Fox 29 following the broadcast and compared the video of his comings and goings with Nace's time sheets. The comparison showed Nace, who supervised three permanent workers and five seasonal employees, billing the city for 27 hours, including overtime, for hours he did not work, Kurland said.

"A person in his position should not be conducting himself in a manner like this," Kurland said.

Nace had been investigated by former Inspector General Seth Williams, who allegedly documented similar work patterns. Fairmount Park Commission Executive Director Mark Focht, however, said the report "was not as substantiated as was required to take disciplinary action against this employee."

Nutter appeared to suggest that such reports will be received in a different light under his watch.

"No longer will fraud investigations end with a slap on the wrist or disappear into a trash can," Nutter said.

Nace can appeal the suspension to the Civil Service Commission.