‘Fear, favouritism and lies’ control Charlottetown city hall, staff allege in letter to council

4 workers members with the Metropolis of Charlottetown have despatched an nameless letter to council decrying town as a poisonous office, putting accountability for that squarely with town’s chief administrative officer Peter Kelly, and urging council to launch an investigation into his conduct.

“We’ve seen too many former workers who spoke out pay a excessive worth,” says the letter from workers, signed “Staffers Wanting Change.”

“The Metropolis of Charlottetown is a office that’s managed by concern, favouritism and lies.”

A replica of the letter was tabled within the provincial legislature Thursday by Inexperienced Occasion Chief Peter Bevan-Baker. 

CBC has spoken with all 4 folks behind the letter, and is defending their identities as a result of they concern being fired for talking out.

They stated they consider different workers really feel the identical means, however in getting ready the letter, they didn’t attain out past their group of 4, for concern somebody would report their efforts and depart them open to being reprimanded.

CBC Information requested Kelly and town for touch upon the allegations made within the workers members’ letter, however has not but obtained a reply.

‘Grossly poisonous work setting’

The letter is simply the newest twist in an ongoing saga over administrative and monetary issues at metropolis corridor that started greater than three years in the past, when town’s former deputy CAO Scott Messervey informed council he believed he was fired by Kelly in retaliation for elevating issues.

Most of these issues had been by no means reported publicly previous to a CBC Information report two weeks in the past.

“The one technique to survive working right here is to remain quiet and do as we’re informed,” the letter from the 4 workers states. “Town has a grossly poisonous work setting because the CAO took over.”

In response to a narrative from CBC Information revealed Apr. 24, outlining the issues raised three years in the past by Messervey, Kelly supplied a press release saying “The administration, together with my private character, have come into query and these must be addressed accordingly.”

In line with paperwork filed in court docket, Kelly informed Messervey in a termination letter that he was being fired partly over issues over his interactions with workers and council members, saying some workers felt Messervey was “searching for errors, quite than making an attempt to work with them to satisfy metropolis and departmental targets.” 

Messervey disputed that declare in a letter despatched in response.

2nd deputy fired in April

On April 8 of this yr, Messervey’s substitute Tina Lococo was fired by Kelly after simply six months on the job. In an e mail to council, she stated she too had raised issues about administrative points at metropolis corridor.

“Coincidentally, the CAO terminated my employment earlier than I had the chance to debate these issues with all of council,” she wrote within the e mail.

The 4 workers members behind the newest letter informed CBC there isn’t any one left at metropolis corridor to supply any oversight over the CAO. Along with the 2 deputy CAOs who had been fired, they level to 4 senior positions for administrators which now not exist.

“The CAO continues to be right here controlling all the things that occurs on the metropolis, and we now not have anybody to attempt to preserve him in examine,” the letter states.

Particular allegations

Among the many particular issues raised within the letter relating to administration at metropolis corridor, the workers allege:

• Town is just not following its personal human sources insurance policies for hiring, firing and selling workers.
• Union grievances, complaints and investigations are “skyrocketing,” together with accompanying litigation and authorized prices.
• Procurement guidelines will not be being adopted, citing the precise instance of a contract for HR software program they are saying was awarded with out going to tender.
• That workers are being directed to with out essential data from council members, together with exit survey outcomes from outgoing workers and points famous throughout metropolis audits.

CBC has not substantiated any of those issues. 

“We will not perceive why the CAO hasn’t been suspended whereas council investigates all of the allegations to resolve what must be accomplished,” the letter states.

On Wednesday, Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown issued a press release saying town is “going via a course of to find out one of the simplest ways ahead for all affected events.”

There have been calls within the legislature for Communities Minister Jamie Fox to order an investigation, together with questions on how his division responded when offered with Messervey’s letter to council in 2019.

2nd letter circulating

A second nameless letter purporting to be from metropolis workers has additionally been circulating. That letter locations accountability for strife at metropolis corridor with a former senior workers member. CBC Information has tried however been unable to succeed in any workers who declare to have authored that letter.

Nevertheless, CBC has confirmed a model of that letter, initially despatched to council, was forwarded by councillor Mike Duffy to a metropolis resident, apparently in response to a public Fb publish by that resident expressing issues in regards to the ongoing state of affairs.

“There isn’t a doubt in regard to the letter’s authenticity; solely people on workers and at conferences would pay attention to the small print offered within the letter,” Duffy wrote to the resident of Ward 4. Duffy is the councillor for Ward 3.

“I believe after you learn this doc you could have ‘a change of coronary heart’ relating to the ‘buzz’ across the metropolis.”

Duffy didn’t reply to a request from CBC Information for remark.

When you have details about this story, or a information tip to share with CBC Prince Edward Island, please e mail kerry.campbell@cbc.ca or compass@cbc.ca.