The investigation into the Semiacs scandal is reaching further and further back, with the regional audit chamber (CRC) releasing a new and, hopefully, final report on the actions and particularly the management of the intercommunal mixed economy company for improving traffic and parking “SEMIACS.” The trouble has now been traced back to 2008.
Patrick Allemand, an opposition elected official and president of the group “Another Future for Nice,” believes it is crucial to ensure that such practices do not persist over time. To that end, he has identified the failings with the CRC, and now resolutions must be quickly found.
There are notably 4 particularly delicate points:
- First, both internal and external controls are inadequate, with the 10 members of the board of directors having barely met since 2009, if at all. Consequently, the role of this body is nonexistent and becomes problematic considering the current findings about the company.
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Secondly, as a direct consequence of the incompetence (whether intentional or not) of the board of directors, no estimate of the total value of supplies or services ordered by the company has been made, leading to unjustified expenditures beyond limits. Unjustified, like the entirety of the issues identified at Semiacs by its members, particularly the President of the Acquisition Committee, Mr. Philippe Pradal, as well as former CEO, Benoit Kandel.
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From 2008 to 2013, the payroll saw an incredible 26% increase for a company with 115 permanent employees, demonstrating a peculiar human resources management. Additionally, SEMIACS has the appearance of a family business, with 25 out of 130 total agents having familial ties. Moreover, the six main executives have an annual salary of over 100,000 euros, not counting benefits in kind.
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Fourthly, through SEMIACS, the municipality and the metropolis have made over 10 million euros of irregular orders. How can the responsibility of the city of Nice now be questioned? The development of the infamous “smart parking” (mobile app) was costly, and while it might be a “Jackpot” for its inventor, Mr. Fiorucci, who received over 3 million euros, it was somewhat less beneficial for the city, which did not assess the added value for the municipality and also struggles to make the app function properly.
All this uncertainty leaves many perplexed, except perhaps the mayor himself, who refuses to react. It’s not for lack of trying, as Patrick Allemand did in a letter, and before him, Louis Vallernaud, president of the CRC, also addressed the matter on August 20th in the same way.
Neither of them can explain why none of this was raised during the Municipal Council meeting following the first letter on September 18th.
Serious questions linger over these dubious dealings that make no attempt at justification. A response is awaited from the Mayor, as well as a potential debate on the issue at the next council meeting.
