The following letter was submitted to new City Manager Chandler Goodwin, challenging his handling of an OFFICIAL COMPLAINT against city employee Gretchen Gordon un-professional treatment of a resident, conflict of interest, nepotism and impact in the 2011 election outcome — as follows:

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October 18, 2017

 

Chandler,

Your response to my OFFICIAL COMPLAINT below was disappointing.  

You conspicuously ignored the key questions regarding employee professionalism, ethics and the request to consider remedies past & present concerns outlined in the Official Complaint against your Exec. Assist Gretchen Gordon.  In review, the questions covered:

1.  Do you believe it professional for appropriate for Cedar Hills City employees under your management to tell residents to “just move out of Cedar Hills”, when that employee’s personal politics disagrees with a resident?  

2.  Don’t you agree that improvements should be considered that could increase protection of taxpayers — as well as city employees — from the consequences of unethical election involvement, conflicts of interests, and nepotism — regardless of current code or policy?

3.  Do you and/or Gretchen Gordon knew anything about, or did she have anything to do with the email below, that directed hundreds of voters with specific names of candidates to vote for, in 2011?

Instead of answering the above questions, you re-defined them, then hid behind quoting city policy, code verbiage and “free speech” claims.  (This is certainly ironic when city employees unduly work against all residents / all candidates, including former Councilman Rob Crawley's "free speech” rights to communicate to the residents as an elected official.)  Then, you officially exonerated & condoned Gretchen’s indefensible actions saying she “acted appropriately". Sad. Highly questionable.  It appears that only ONE voice is allowed or protected in Cedar Hills — all others can move outta town!

So, I guess Cedar Hills residents are left to conclude by your response as the City Manager that:  

It is current Cedar Hills City policy, appropriate, and indeed acceptable for the Mayor, City Council and City employees to tell Cedar Hills taxpayers to “just move out of Cedar Hills”. and otherwise harass and intimidate residents, when their opinions differ, when they question employee conflicts of interest, or when CH citizens investigate and/or request public records, that may expose illegal or unethical behaviors, including manipulation of elections, — by those in power.

Absurd?  Not really. Not in light of the Official Complaint filed and the City’s evasive response through you.  

Chandler, we had hoped that your stated desire for better government in Cedar Hills would be backed up by corrective action and improvements — not an apparent “circle the wagons” protection of indefensible / unethical employee actions. 

Lastly, maybe you’ll tell us what Gretchen’s response is when you ask, “Have you ever falsified document(s) while working as a Cedar Hills employee?”  There appears to be twisted sense of entitlement amongst some employees.  Chandler, do you think CH residents owe anyone (including their friends and family) a lifetime job with generous and growing pay, pension and special perks, — when taxpayer dollars could go much further — while costing residents a whole lot less with different employees?  Patterns of unethical behavior and possible conflicts of interest amongst CH staff must be identified and acknowledged.  Only then can they be fixed! 

Am I missing something, or are my facts, opinions and observations above inaccurate in any way?  If not, I am saddened that our beautiful and wonderful little city and residents continues to be treated as a private $$ piggybank and private golf course, etc., — for a select few.  We want you to succeed, and to be able to trust you.  Chandler, to succeed, you must answer the question, “Who am I really working for?"

In the meanwhile, I guess we’ll just have to let Cedar Hills voters judge this information for themselves, and decide what kind of City employees they want their tax dollars to support.  

Disappointed,

 

Ken Cromar – researcher for 

Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government

former elected Cedar Hills Councilman –  1994 to 2000

 

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October 16, 2017

RESPONSE TO OFFICIAL COMPLAINT (Received October 12, 2017)

 

Ken,

I have reviewed the content of your “OFFICIAL COMPLAINT” and determined that there are two issues that need to be addressed:

·       Allegations of, “past and current conflict-of-interest employee action and related city policies.”

·       Consideration of, “strengthening of the city’s anti-nepotism policy.”

In your email chain with Gretchen Gordon, you reference an email dated November 7, 2011, which was sent by The Cedars HOA Board to residents of The Cedars HOA. Additionally you state, “If you promoted candidates as an HOA Board Member while being a City official, it absolutely relates to your work… You and your husband Greg Gordon have a conflict of interest because of his employment with the city relating to the failing golf course/golf club house, and you and he profit financially by that employment paid for by Cedar Hills residents”.

Current Cedar Hills Policies and Procedures related to political activity states:

13. POLICITAL ACTIVITY (Section 7, Employee Code of Conduct)

A.      An employee shall not be coerced to support a political activity.

B.      An employee shall not engage in political activity during work hours, unless on approved leave.

C.      An employee shall not use the City of Cedar Hills’ owned equipment, supplies or resources, and other attendant expenses when engaged in political activity.

D.      An employee shall not discriminate in favor of or against any person or applicant for employment based on political activities.

E.       An employee shall not use the employee’s title or position while engaging in political activity.

Based on these policies, it has been determined that Gretchen was not acting contrary to the established Policies, as the email in question does not bear her name or city title. Additionally, multiple Cedar Hills residents are employed with the City. It is in no way a violation of City Policy for these employees to be politically active and engaged in elections as long as the Policies and Procedures are adhered to; by being a city employee, one does not forfeit their right to free speech. As Utah State Code 10-3-1108 has similar language as the City’s policies:

(2) Except as otherwise provided by federal law:

   (a)  the partisan political activity, political opinion, or political affiliation of an applicant for a position with a municipality may not provide a basis for denying employment to the applicant;

   (b)  an officer or employee's partisan political activity, political opinion, or political affiliation may not provide the basis for the officer or employee's employment, promotion, disciplinary action, demotion, or dismissal;

   (c)   a municipal officer or employee may not engage in political campaigning or solicit political contributions during hours of employment;

   (d)  a municipal officer or employee may not use municipal equipment while engaged in political activity;

The second complaint is to consider strengthening the City’s anti-nepotism policy. The Cedar Hills Policies and Procedures states that the City will comply with Utah State Code 52-3-1.The positions that Gretchen and Greg Gordon currently hold comply with this provision which states,  “No appointee may accept or retain employment if he is paid from public funds, and he is under the direct supervision of a relative…”.  As Greg is the Recreation Director and Gretchen is in the Administration Department, I have determined that they are in compliance with this code and the Policies of Cedar Hills. It is not a conflict of interest for Gretchen to be politically active in her HOA and as an HOA Board endorse candidates that will protect the golf course, despite her husband’s employment there.

Furthermore, as a city, we strive to give residents and members of the community the best customer service experience we can, even though we may be having difficult conversations with them. We strive for professionalism and mutual respect to be a part of every interaction and will continue to emphasize this type of contact with each resident we serve.  Based on the evidence provided and conversations with Gretchen as well as Mayor Gary Gygi and David Shaw, the City Attorney, I have concluded that Gretchen acted appropriately and did not violate any provision of the Cedar Hills Policies and Procedures, City of Cedar Hills City Code, and Utah State Code, and consider the matter resolved.

Regards,

 

Chandler Goodwin

City Manager

City of Cedar Hills

 

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OFFICIAL COMPLAINT

 

October 12, 2017

Chandler,

Your Executive Assistant / Human Resources city employee Gretchen Gordon asked me to contact you regarding our email exchange and discussion in the city office front lobby while I was filing a public records GRAMA request.

For your convenience, I have included below the complete email chain and file this complaint against her sometimes inappropriate and unprofessional behavior.  This material may also inspire your investigation into past and current conflict-of-interest employee action and related city policies, as well as considering a strengthening of the city’s anti-nepotism policy.  

The email chain below is self-explanatory.  With regards to Gretchen’s most recent email:  

For the record, she mischaracterized our discussion.  Fortunately I have a reliable witness.  

While I was filing my GRAMA request, yes, she invited and encouraged my attendance at the 40 year celebration.  I told her I was disinclined to come because I don’t always feel safe at times at CH public events due to bullying, intimidation and threats of violence (including Jenney Rees’s husband Matt & former Councilman Ken Kirk, as you well know, etc.) by the pro-golf crowd.  Fortunately, she agreed that this kind of intimidation at public meetings was inappropriate and unacceptable, and I thanked her.  I also complimented you Chandler referencing your bringing police in that one night golf finance meeting to protect me, your “unquestioning” respect for me and acknowledgement that, “Ken, you only seek the truth in behalf of CH residents.”  Thanks again.  I really appreciate your honor and professionalism.

The discussion with Gretchen led to other items, on which she offered many lengthy opinions, some which were inappropriate and unkind, including “Ken, why don’t you just move out of Cedar Hills?”  

Chandler, this kind of behavior is an unprofessional and a disrespectful way for a city employee to treat anyone, — let alone someone whose taxes pay her wages, wouldn’t you agree?

Gretchen, the golf course and free golf and other questionable items have at times put city employees at times in a conflict of interest.  The problem is those in the conflicts of interest are often blind to it, and resent reasonable investigation and observations.  

Finally, you will find the referenced Nov. 7, 2011 The Cedars HOA email Gretchen referenced that told that precinct how to vote, which says nothing about being from a "management board", but rather that it was sent from the “Board@TheCedarsHOA.org.” Gretchen did not deny the email was real and was sent to the entire HOA.  it is most important to note that while her email adamantly postures, “I did not send that email,”  her response does NOT directly answer the question, "Gretchen, can you truthfully deny having anything to do with the email below…?”  

Chandler, I’m confident you agree that when you, Jerry Dearinger and I met on August 11th to discuss our writing the AGAINST the PARC tax increase argument  we had a productive and respectful meeting.  As I recall you said you want CH government under your leadership to be fair and open and honest.  I believe you.  As our new City Manager may I strongly encourage you to seriously consider this Official Complaint and re-evaluation of city policy that might help remedy and protect citizens rights and from abusive government, and protect city employee from compromise and temptation to break the public trust?  We think it is a reasonable expectation that all city employees will speak honestly and treat all residents with respect.  Thank you.

In the meanwhile, I guess we’ll have to leave if up to the intelligent CH resident, taxpayer and voter to decide the truth on these matters.

 

Respectfully,

Ken Cromar – taxpayer / resident / researcher for 

Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government

former elected Cedar Hills Councilman

 

Please note CC to current candidates for Council / and CHCRG members

 

 

 

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