Parks boss is subject of new inquiry
Director’s behavior again at issue
State human-resource officials are interviewing employees at Arizona State Parks & Trails about agency Director Sue Black’s treatment of staff.
At least four top-level Arizona Department of Administration employees, including state Human Resources Director Ginger LaBine and Deputy Director Elizabeth Thorson, have been interviewing Parks central office staff over the past week.
Staff told The Arizona Republic that they were asked how Black treated them. ADOA employees conducted their interviews just outside Black’s office, the staffers said.
ADOA functions as the state’s human-resources department.
The staff members who spoke to The Republic asked not to be identified, fearing they would be fired or retaliated against.
Neither Black nor Parks spokeswoman Michelle Thompson responded Tuesday to requests for comment about the investigation.
ADOA spokeswoman Megan Rose confirmed that the interviews were occurring but said the inquiry wasn’t a “formal investigation.”
“Some ADOA staff members are currently working on-site at the Parks Department, taking an opportunity to ensure that best HR practices are being implemented,” she said in a statement. “Impartiality and confidentiality are always a top concern for our human resource professionals, and any conversations, including the location of such conversations, are held with this in mind.”
The Republic last month reported Black had fired without cause a 59year-old woman with eye cancer who had obtained Family and Medical Leave Act protection to care for herself. After a public outcry, Black rehired the woman.
Black has also implemented a volunteer work program at the agency, asking central office staff to work in the field. Black recently told staff the program to help clean toilets, patrol creeks, collect fees and work in park stores was “voluntary,” but also reminded them that they could be fired at any time.
The current investigation marks the third time since 2015 that Black has come under scrutiny for her treatment of Parks employees.
In late 2015, less than a year after Black was named head of the agency, an ADOA investigation of Black found numerous employee complaints that she had abused her authority.
Gov. Doug Ducey, who appointed Black to the job, took no action after that inquiry. He gave her a raise of more than 9 percent in November 2016, bringing her annual pay to $175,000. Black’s predecessor was paid $136,000 annually.
Last year, Ducey’s office investigated Black after a former top-level employee accused her of berating staff, disclosing confidential information, using racial slurs, getting drunk and belligerent while representing the agency at conferences, and trying to violate the state procurement code. Several ex-Parks employees corroborated the allegations to The Republic.
Ducey’s office selected the outside counsel that conducted the investigation, which did not include an interview of the woman who had made the accusations.
The probe found problems with “general management practices” but no reasons to take action against Black.
During the past investigations, Ducey has continued to praise Black for bringing in additional revenue and for winning a national award.
Asked about his confidence in Black by 12 News during an unrelated media briefing on Wednesday, Ducey said, “We are going to work with the director to see what the facts are and to see what the remedies are.”
Meanwhile, Bret Parke, a state Department of Environmental Quality executive and former ADOA general counsel, was installed last month as interim deputy director at Parks.
The agency also moved Deputy Director Jim Keegan to a different position. Keegan, under orders from Black, had fired the woman with cancer, according to the Governor’s Office.
In 2012, Black was fired from her job as the Milwaukee County Parks director in Wisconsin.
The current investigation marks the third time since 2015 that Black has come under scrutiny for her treatment of Parks employees.