HomeMy WebLinkAboutDiscussion and Direction to Staff on Report Regarding City Hiring Practices
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Greg Sullivan, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Discussion and Direction to Staff on Report Regarding City Hiring
Practices.
MEETING DATE: October 12, 2009
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action Agenda
RECOMMENDATION: None.
BACKGROUND: In July you entered into a contract with Michele Puiggari, a human
resources consultant from Missoula, to answer several questions you had related to the City’s
hiring practices. Specifically, the Scope of Work states:
a. Scope of Work: The CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for conducting
interviews with all applicable City of Bozeman employees and any other person
the CONTRACTOR deems necessary to determine whether statements made by
employees before the City Commission on June 22, 2009 contained any false or
misleading statements, as alleged in an email dated June 25, 2009, and, if so,
whether those statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or misleading
nature. In fulfilling the above, the Contractor shall inquire as to:
i. The voluntariness of background checks conducted on those being
interviewed as it relates to final hiring decision;
ii. The initiation of and reason behind the use of waivers and consent forms
for those being interviewed;
iii. the specifics regarding the practice of reviewing the social networking
sites of those being interviewed;
iv. the specific details of the various log-in information that was acquired;
and
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v. a review of whether those being interviewed had any reservations of
signing the required waiver and consent forms. This can be performed
using a sample of applicants.
As you know, this report was completed and released to you on September 25, 2009 and was
released to all employees and the public on the afternoon of October 2, 2009. The Mayor has
scheduled this agenda item to provide an opportunity for you to discuss the investigator’s report
with the City administration and to allow the public an opportunity to participate in your
discussions. Ms. Puiggari has been requested by the Mayor to attend.
FISCAL EFFECTS: To date, Michele Puiggari has invoiced the City $7,828.23. This invoice
was approved by the Mayor and is being run through the City’s accounts payable. The funds for
this investigation are being taken from the City Attorney’s budget. If Ms. Puiggari attends this
public meeting she will invoice the City for additional expenses related to attending the meeting.
Likewise, if the Commission desires any additional services form Ms. Puiggari, she will also
invoice the City for those services.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Attachments: None.
Report compiled on: October 5, 2009.
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