Dewey commissioners table whistleblower policy vote

No vote was taken on a whistleblower policy presented by Town Manager Scott Koenig at the Oct. 20 Dewey commissioners meeting.

Dewey Mayor T.J. Redefer said the policy was not retroactive but should have been in place long ago.

“With all of the events of the past, it would have been nice if there was some protection in our code,” he said.

Koenig wrote the policy, while Town Solicitor Fred Townsend and independent auditor Roy Geiser reviewed it to ensure it would help the town comply with future audit communications.

Commissioners, employees, committee members and volunteers are among protected whistleblowers.

Koenig said the town solicitor and HR consultant Diane Campanile would help the town manager investigate most complaints, but financial complaints would likely involve only the town solicitor. He said anonymous complaints with substance would be investigated.

“Complaints in the future would not have to begin with an EEOC complaint or legal action,” Koenig said. “It’s a tool to keep us out of more potentially public conflict and offers employees, committee members and volunteers documentation they can rely on. If they have a complaint, we will take it seriously and address it.”

Commissioner David Moskowitz said he and Commissioner Gary Persinger revised Koenig’s draft to make it a better legal document and reduce the town’s liability. The draft named the HR consultant as investigator.

“Having the HR person involved is the right thing to do,” he said. “The HR person investigates, Scott [Koenig] gets the results and makes a determination, but the investigation is done by a neutral party.”

Moskowitz also said all commissioners, not just the mayor, should be advised of investigations.

“We’re sworn officials, and we have a duty not to disclose private information publicly,” he said.

Persinger said any complaints, even anonymous ones, have to be investigated.

“This is about protection for whistleblowers. This is not about what complaints we investigate,” he said.

Persinger suggested combining the two drafts for a stronger policy to present at the commissioners’ Nov. 10 monthly meeting.