The Buenos Aires Planetarium Does Not Have Any Astronomers
The Audit of the City of Buenos Aires says that the position of Director has been vacant since 2000 and that the current account of the organization is managed by an employee of the lowest rank of the public administration. The civil association that collaborates with the Galileo Galilei is financed by renting the property for private events, even though the legislation prohibits it.
A report from the General Audit Office of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish) states that the personnel of the Galileo Galilei Planetarium do not have any astronomers "who guarantee the scientific rigor" of their activities, and that the post of Director of the entity has been vacant since October 2000.
In addition, in 2005, a contracted agent was appointed as the executive coordinator of the agency, who, a year later, "opted for an employment relationship in the lowest echelon of the City's employees," the AGCBA says. However, the new coordinator was authorized to handle the current account of the Planetarium and, until the date of the report, his situation had not been regularized.
On the other hand, the control body analyzed the work of the Civil Association "Good Science Social Club", which collaborates with the complex of the neighborhood of Palermo, and observed several breaches of Municipal Ordinance No. 35,514, which regulates the aid entities Social assistance to municipal agencies.
First, the Audit verified "the interference of the Association in the organization and operation of the Planetarium," contrary to what is established in Article 13 of the Ordinance. Second, "Good Science Social Club" earns income from money for the rent of the premises of the property for the accomplishment of particular events but, beyond not having permission to lease facilities, that form of financing is not foreseen in the disposition of the city.
Regarding this issue, the report states that in 2006, $ 30 thousand was leased to the Association in the form of renting the property, and pointed out some "users" of the events: Consolidar Salud SA, a service company called Job & Technology SA, which published On the Internet a "address that does not match the one detailed in the invoice", and Dutelo SA, which appears with the same address of a "known bar of Palermo Hollywood."
Likewise, the AGCBA highlights the "lack of reliability" of the accounting balances of Good Science. It is that in the Planetarium there are notes of reception that indicate that the association made contributions for $ 62,140.91 in 2006, while the figure that appears in the balance of the entity for the same year is $ 32,452.55.
As for the safety of the complex, the fire program presents irregularities such as poor distribution of fire extinguishers in the building, erroneous signaling, malfunction of emergency lights, lack of a pressurizing system that guarantees the pressure and the flow of Water for the hydrant niches, and the absence of an evacuation plan according to the laws in force in the City.
From an analysis of the book of complaints of visitors to the Planetarium, it appears that the biggest inconveniences have to do with mistreatment, lack of respect and bad predisposition of employees, having to make long lines in the open to get tickets, and the Low level and short duration of functions.
According to the AGCBA, in 2006 the complex of Palermo was visited by 144.405 people.