I hear a lot of talk about fiscal responsibility. Lawsuits are a waste of money and fiscally irresponsible for this city. The city manager is allowing the chief of police to violate individuals’ rights, and the taxpayers will foot the bill.
The Ginger Travers debacle
was decided. The chief of police was wrong. He violated her civil right of due process. It will cost the city a bundle. She’s back to work and rightfully so. Now Gordon Fulwood will have his day in court, and soon enough we will find out how much that will cost the taxpayers of High Springs. Now Debbie Holley is being disciplined and suspended without pay for trumped-up charges.
Unfair labor practices will allow lawsuits to continue. A double standard exists. In July 2009 a formal investigation found the chief of police guilty of violating directives against two female officers, one of which was Officer Holley. Though guilty, he only received a reprimand and no other discipline from the city manager. If these multiple violations were done by anyone else they would be cause for termination.
Why did the Chief receive a small reprimand and yet Travers, Fulwood, and Holley receive severe discipline? A double standard exists. The federal laws on employment dictate violations of retaliation and double standard. An EEOC investigation done by the federal agency could represent serious consequences and damages for violations. Such a complaint already exists against the Chief.
The City commission needs to straighten out this mess. We will continue to be vulnerable to lawsuits because of this chief of police and the support of the city manager. If Mr. Drumm allows employees’ rights to be violated, the City Commission needs to replace him with a new city manager who will act to deny these wrongful terminations and disciplines. The chief is only able to commit these violations at the pleasure of the city manager. The city manager works at the pleasure of the City Commission.
This is the responsibility of the City Commission. This is not a small employee grievance. It is a pattern of behavior costing possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and settlements. We’ve all heard the members of the commission talk-the-talk of fiscal responsibility.
Talk is not effective. It is obvious the city manager refuses to control the rising legal costs caused by the ego of one individual.
Robyn Rush
High Springs