Title
Ethics Complaint - Event Three involving City Manager Steve Hill
Body
SUMMARY:
When Mr. Hill was appointed as Interim City Manager, I received calls stating that he had been and was investigated for wrongful theft of municipal property. In summary, I am requesting that this investigation be revisited and Mr. Hill be charged or exonerated. I originally received calls from Park Department employees (not Ms. French). I also received inquiries from the press. My first measure was made to Police Chief Shoap and asked him if an internal investigation was ever conducted into the Parks Department. Chief Shoap checked and told me his department had not done an investigation. I pulled Mr. Hill’s personnel file and read where Mr. Rutherford had admonished him for excessive use of his vehicle (the 2nd admonishment by a City Manager) and not having his house in order. I saw to it the rest of the Council got copies of the admonishments. I called Mr. Rutherford who informed me a Councilman had complained to him that he had reports of wrongdoing and asked him to look into it. He found a problem with accounting for tools and had ordered inventories of his equipment. He had Finance hold the inventories. Then during the investigation, Mr. Hill opted for an early retirement. Mr. Rutherford put a letter in his file and moved on. I checked with Finance where during one inventory items were missing, the next inventory they were accounted for, the next inventory they were missing, the next inventory they were accounted for.
Last week a parks employee told me details on the incident. He asked how it was that nothing was done about him and how is it possible he could come back to replace Ms. French. He told me what happened was Mr. Hill ordered a chain saw, blower, and lawn mower blades for a cub cadet (the City did not have a cub cadet). That’s when the inventory came about, he (Steve Hill) returned the items, and told his employee to write a justification for the chain saw and blower. He asked why since they already had a chain saw and blower. Mr. Hill strongly admonished them to just do what they were told.
I asked Mr. Hill about this and he threw a temper tantrum. He stated he did not have anything in his file and he would sue anyone who said anything. A reasonable person would believe that this investigation should be reopened and a determination be made to either exonerate Mr. Hill or take appropriate action. On August 30, 2016, Mr. Hill did go to the HRO office and did purge his personnel file of all letters of admonishment, aa violation of abuse and removing official files. T.C.A.Title 39, Chapter 16, Part 5.
I remind the Council that Mr. Hill sets the example for the City employees.
City Council shall either determine that the complaint has merit, determine that the complaint does not have merit or determine that the complaint has sufficient merit to warrant further investigation. If the Council determines that a complaint warrants further investigation, it shall authorize an investigation by the City Attorney or another individual or entity chosen by the City Council. (§ 1-710(3))
BUDGET ACCOUNT:
Recommended Action
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION: Determine merits of complaint