LET THE HEARINGS BEGIN

 Mayor Segarra today announced the appointment of Valda Washington as the permanent head of Hartford's Human Resources Department. This  couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Quite frankly, the HR Department at City Hall is a mess under her leadership or lack thereof.
But now she must face the Hartford City Council to answer questions before she is approved by them. Where should I start the list of questions that hopefully we can have asked?

What experience does she have negotiating Union contracts, it would appear little or none if what Union reps are telling me is true. Why are people in her department going out on Medical leave due to stress? Why is she so concerned about the media reviewing her City credit card expenses that she would actually put her fears in writing through e-mails? And what's up with the West Hartford Massages?

And does she understand progressive discipline? How do you place an employee on paid Administrative leave and charge her with Gross Insubordination just because Washington believes she leaked e-mails to me? I can't wait to see that one before the Labor Board. How will you document what she did wrong, if anything at all.A clerical error on a payroll report? Clearly a mistake and far from anything warranting termination. It happens all the time .

 The hearing officer should love that one. "Sir I believe she leaked my e-mails about the abuse of my City Credit card, she had to go". Immediately on to Superior court for award of damages I would imagine

And who sends out"2 hour early dismissal vouchers" as a Christmas  present to City employees, another unwarranted expense on the City's dime. And if you want to present employees with a gift, pull out your own credit card and buy  them something.

The treatment of the employees under Washington, is the exact reason I have asked members of our legislative delegation to look into a bill that would provide "whistle blower" protection to Municipal employees.

Employees wishing to point out malfeasance by municipal officials should not have to be in fear of their jobs for doing the right thing. Hopefully the Hartford City Council will ask the important questions before another hiring mistake  is approved by an outsider who sees Hartford as a good paycheck and the next step on the career ladder

Hopefully Valda Washington will realize I will go to the mat for something I believe in. And that includes exposing a witchhunt to terrorize employees into keeping their mouths shut  and trying to terminate someone for doing the right thing. I realize she is new to Hartford, but she may want to go through the archives here to read about some of the fights and the outcome.

Dan Nolan is back, Neville Brooks is now a Deputy Chief and Darryl Roberts abruptly "retired" as a result of the Rudewicz report which came about because of the blog. Female employees in MHIS are no longer the victims of Sexual Harassment and a change in leadership occurred there when the Director was shown the door.And don't forget a lot of the information that was provided regarding our former Mayor Eddie A. Perez, who is now a convicted felon. The list could go on and on,  I don't even know the identity of my source from HR, but I am more than willing to fight for anyone that is wronged when they try to do the right thing.

That is how corruption flourishes, when good people with a conscience are threatened to keep quiet. Like the television ad says " If you see something, say something", and Ms. Washington, people are saying a lot, with or without your threats.

Game on.