Elk Grove City Council Asked To Investigate City Manager, Attorney Misconduct Allegations
Detrick supportive of independent investigation The Elk Grove City Council has been asked by community activists to investigate allegatio...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2009/07/elk-grove-city-council-asked-to.html
Detrick supportive of independent investigation
The Elk Grove City Council has been asked by community activists to investigate allegations of misconduct by the city’s manager and attorney.
The controversy stems from a three page letter from an unidentified city employee addressed to the city council who has, among other things, charged city manager Laura Gill and city attorney Susan Cochran of unprofessional conduct. The letter was made available to EGN by community activist Connie Conley.
Among other claims, the employees alleges that recent layoff decisions made by Gill were subjectively motivated and that Cochran plays computer games on city computers during regular business hours.
In her letter to the Elk Grove City Council, Conley urged the city council look into the matter immediately. Conley wrote:
I would rather the council spend a couple of thousand now than hundreds of thousands later. And shouldn't Laura Gill welcome outside validation that she fosters a healthy work environment as she claims? If this city government of ours is truly committed to honesty, transparency, accountability and respect, there should be no refusal now.
Linda Ford, a member of the Elk Grove Committee Advocating Proper Planning (EGCAPP) also urged the city council to investigate the matter. Ford, though not officially representing EGCAPP, noted that failure to investigate the matter leaves “the city exposed and vulnerable financially.”
Through public information officer Christine Brainerd, both Cochran and Gill declined invitation to comment on the matter. Previously, Gill said some of the difficult decisions the city was making regarding employment were understandably causing stress.
All the city council members were invited to comment for the story and only Steve Detrick has responded. Detrick said that he has supported an independent review since he first heard the allegations.
Detrick wrote:
I have supported and requested an independent review from the first time I received questions from employees. I treat all internal and external questions with the same level of care and concern. I feel the existing City Council and Executive Team are still overcoming the mistrust of prior administrations. Having an open, honest and transparent independent review by an independent attorney that reports directly to the City Council would be best. I see this as the only way City Council can ensure that we get accurate and honest information reported back to us. Then we can either put this behind us if there are no negative finding or address them as necessary if any are found.
My goal is to rise trust and respect to the highest level possible from top to bottom with the citizens, The entire City Council, The Executive Team and all of City of Elk Grove Employees.
There is no word as to whether the discussion of an independent investigation into the allegations will be on next week’s city council agenda.
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4 comments
Thank you Council Member Detrick.
I am a city employee and have been watching the online discussion threads on this blog for the past several days. I feel for Ms. Gill and Ms. Cochran having to go through the attacks from anonymous bloggers. I had always been very much against anonymous blogging- and think people can be overly vicious when they are anonymous, and the blogger has little to no credibility.
With that said, I also feel for staff because we don’t have any other options to express our concerns with how business is being conducted at City Hall. If the Council Members don’t agree to an investigation, we are left with no alternatives. We are fearful of losing our jobs, so we cannot tell the City Mgr or her senior staff. We have no way of letting the council know without assurance the information will not be shared with the City Mgr—and then we would lose our jobs. I hate to say this on an online post, and contradict my philosophy on anonymous postings, but most staff thinks if you get on the City Mgr’s bad side, she finds a way to fire you.
Right now we are basically trapped and helpless with two options---- a.) be a whistleblower and risk our jobs in a horrible jobmarket, or b.) remain silent and quietly watch what we believe is flat out wrong.
Please Council Members, we are begging you to please don’t look away, and pretend you didn’t hear this. Please investigate. Otherwise you are saying you just don’t want to know the truth. There is a lotyou need to know.
Ditto of my above co-worker's comments. Yes, we do fear if we speak up. No one wants to lose their job and yes we have all been very quiet and just trying to get our work done for the community. Council, please do your own investigation, if Laura or Susan have any connection or control I fear you will not hear what you need. Thank you Steve Detrick
Thank you, Councilmember Detrick.
I am a former employee who left because of the hostile, back-stabbing work environment. If you talk - you are gone. No exceptions. The City hires you, puts you in a chair, and tells you to get to work. There is no orientation, no training, no warnings - nothing. You are on your own. What's even worse, tax-payer money has been "walking out the door" because of poorly written contracts. The City essentially left the cash register open for the consultants to steal to the tune of over $1.4 million dollars... Ask for an audit of the development services department, or better yet - ask the Interim Finance Director who was there and knew about this. A lower level employee discovered this while John Danielson was in-charge. This person was led out the door so they could cover up the mishap, and save their asses. I hope you get to the bottom of this, Councilmembers... You have been kept in the dark for too long... That's the culture at the City - YOU ARE FORBIDDEN TO TALK TO COUNCILMEMBERS UNLESS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE IS INFORMED _ OTHERWISE YOU ARE TOAST. They want to keep Council in the dark like they have been since inccorporation. Power, politics, and unethical behavior is rampant at the City.
GOOD LUCK.
First, Thank you Cuncilman Detrick. I have had several issues over the last couple of months where I emailed all of the City Council members. Steve Detrick is THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER to ever reply back to me. Not Scherman, Not Cooper, Not my own Councilman Mayor Pat Hume, and never Gary Davis...probably too busy running for Congress. We need to DEMAND that the Council hire an independent investigator NOW to get to the bottom of these charges. Either that, or maybe a request for a Grand Jury investigation. Perhaps the Stae Attorney General could lend some advice??? There is A LOT WRONG with this city's government. Harassment and hostile work environment suits will further drain the city coffers.
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