Personnel discussion in public meeting blasted by Gary mayor

Questions over residency waivers for five city employees, including two described as emergency EMT hires, were referred Tuesday to an executive session and criticized sharply Thursday by Gary Mayor Jerome Prince.

The move occurred after the waiver for the first individual was questioned in detail by Council President William Godwin, D-1st, which drew additional questions from other council members that ultimately led to revealing personal information about the woman, including her name and her finances.

Godwin began by questioning where the employee worked, whether she met the five criteria for a residency waiver and whether she was a confidential employee, a class of employee by statute that can be hired by the mayor without the need to advertise for the position.

Councilman Clorius Lay, D-at large, revealed information about the employee’s financial situation as he discussed the waiver. He argued the confidential status of the employee made questions about where she worked in the city moot.

Some council members including Councilman Mike Brown, D-at large, and Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, expressed concern over the discussion.

“We’ve not done this publicly before. Some things should not be brought before the council as it relates to human resources,” Mary Brown said.

“I am concerned about how we are going about this,” Mike Brown said.

Council attorney Rinzer Williams repeatedly advised the council to end the discussion.

“This very conversation is my concern,” Williams said after questions about how long a waiver for an employee should be granted. He said all discussions about employees should be moved to executive committee.

The situation prompted a rebuke by Mayor Jerome Prince issued in a statement Thursday.

“I am embarrassed and disappointed by the behavior of many of the Gary Common Council members at the most recent council meeting Tuesday night. Instead of partnering with the Administration to make the City of Gary a better place to live work and play, several Council members continue to engage in politics and persona attacks” Prince said in the statement.

“There was absolutely no reason for any of the Council members to single out individual employees,” Prince continued. He said one employee was identified by name, and her personal financial information was disclosed in the public square.

“The deputy mayor and I have talked to that employee and apologized to her for the way she was treated last night. Needless to say she was humiliated and embarrassed,” Prince said.