Scottsboro City Hall (photo by G. Morgan)
Update-February 15, 2016: Office Manager has been an arrested in the Scottsboro Rec-Com missing cash case. Warrant was issued and an arrest was made today. Link to Rec-Com personnel http://www.cityofscottsboro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=123
It is important to remember this employee is innocent until proven guilty.
“It was the same employee during both of these transactions, and the employee’s name came up to us when we were made aware that cash transactions were occurring and no receipts were being received,” Dohring says.
Here's the problem folks, the bottom line explained at the beginning.
This business with the "Mayor's Pet employees" and unfair application of policy is coming home to roost. Many employees are upset with him. Unfortunately there is no outlet for them in this case. The mayor rules with threats in the creation of an atmosphere of fear; instead of leading with good sense and leadership/management skill. There is also a communications issue which has been discussed previously with the mayor regarding lateral communications with employees.
Informant 1 -I was accused of domestic violence, the police were called, there was an argument, there were no blows exchanged, there was stress in our family. There were no formal charges, the case was dismissed. But that did not stop our Mayor from threatening me. He placed negative personnel actions into my personnel file, although he was advised against this action, all because I have not supported him politically. I know other city employees were not punished for the same actions.
Informant 2 - There was an attempt to punish me for failing to handle cash properly. However, the problem was not on me, there was a thief who was prosecuted for stealing cash. The City had no cash control policy - however, since the mayor and the person responsible for cash control were friends nothing was done about his negligence. I became a scapegoat for the "good ole boys club." Rumors were circulated, my name was run through the mud, just as he has done against other females. But things did not work out so well for the mayor regarding my situation. The city had to pay me full restitution for their wrongful actions.Update on cash control, see Informant 8 below.
(*correction) Informant 3 ( non-city employee) - Our ball teams payed money to play on the Scottsboro City Ball Fields. We were not able to complete our season. Although we complained, nothing was done to make it right, we did not complete our season due to the *Athletic Director's neglect. (Originally it was stated Field Director, it has been pointed out this is incorrect, the problem was the athletic director, another friend of the mayor who seems to do no wrong in the face of problems.) See update, Informant 8 below.
Informant 4 - My supervisor, a department head, carries brass knucles in his vehicle, I and others have seen them. He uses this weapon as a intimidation tool. Saying, "I'll take care of you if you do not do as I say." Or another one of his favorite things is to show his brass knuckles and say, "I'll whip his ass if he does this again." hitting his fist in his palm with his weapon. He has been doing this for years, the mayor has been made aware of this but because they are friends nothing is ever done about this.
Informant 5 & 6 - Job descriptions were re-written specially for some department heads. Although these department heads were not initially qualified for the position, because they were the mayor's friend, the job description was written specifically or changed specifically for them.
Informant 7 - The situation with women and how the mayor treats women is awful. I mean everyone knows about the current HR Director but do you know about the past HR Director? Yeah, he let her and the previous City Clerk go. Well, they retired because he threatened them. Oh, and there is one lady that has been with the city for years. Her department head has not evaluated her the last couple years. I heard HR notified the department head and mayor time after time about it but nothing was done. I guess because the department head is the mayor's best friend. Well best friend for now. If the mayor is not reelected the finance director will drop him like a hot potato.
Informant 8 - update - cash control - There was an earlier report regarding a loss of cash, within the past 2 weeks, at the Recreation Center, under $100.00. It is unknown if this is a continuous problem or an isolated incident. The police had been involved in investigating this information.
My comments and Informant 9 - I was first informed of a cash control problem at the Rec Com and the the possibility of theft of cash as it was mentioned that there are times when cash is left sitting around and that there was lacking control over cash. Informant 8 and 9 has made me aware of a previous issue at the Rec Com regarding cash control. It has been reported that the same issue was apparent during the time when Mayor Deason was Mayor. The ABI were called to investigate, but there was insufficient documentation as to cash control to pursue an more thorough investigation.
Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary
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Fair Use for non-profit news and commentary
My comments: It is my opinion that there is a valid concern regarding active sexual discrimination carried forth by the Scottsboro City Mayor against various female employees of the City of Scottsboro. Interviews have revealed a historical pattern of discriminatory practices by the Mayor and other male employee department heads where he is the direct supervisor.
There is a continuous historical problem regarding Scottsboro's Personnel Evaluation System, it is outdated and does not reflect a current professional Objective System of Contractual, Measurable Performance Standards.
The citizens of Scottsboro paid a large amount of money to an investigator several years ago in a previous personnel related issue. That issue and the subsequent hearing filled the Goosepond Civic Center. The personnel specialist's recommendation was for the City of Scottsboro to immediately implement a system of Objective, Measurable Performance Standards Evaluation System. Every mayor since Louis Price has been advised to improve the personnel performance apraisal system to reflect an objective system of measurable performance standards. There is only one reason the political powers within the City of Scottsboro will not implement an objective, professional, measurable system of performance evaluations. The want for personal control instead of implementing the need for a fair, objective system of performance appraisals.
My opinions regarding personnel and discrimination are based on education and experience as a Department of Defense Race Relations Equal Opportunity Management Specialist within Department of the Army, now retired, and being a first line and a mid-level supervisor in the Federal Personnel Management System within the Army Medical Department, receiving many, many hours of personnel management education from the Department of the Army, Federal Office of Personnel Management, University of Michigan, University of Florida and a graduate of Baylor University.
Regarding Sexual Harassment/Gender Discrimination, information regarding complaints etc. may be found on this previous posting http://arklite.blogspot.com/2015/11/requirement-of-private-investigators.html