‘Unwilling or unable’ to manage
Report reveals ex-official in Conroe showed favoritism, made no effort to alleviate gossip
A former Conroe official who resigned amid the threat of being fired showed favoritism toward an employee and did nothing to resolve concerns of colleagues who made assumptions about their relationship, according to a report released by the city.
Tommy Woolley “has shown himself unwilling or unable to manage his department and his behavior toward (the employee),” said the 23-page report filed after a monthlong investigation prompted by complaints from several of Woolley’s colleagues.
In separate interviews with lawyers from the Southlakebased law firm Ross Gannaway Clifton, both Woolley and the employee each denied being in a relationship, other than a friendship, according to the report. The employee also said she felt that Woolley tried to control her.
Woolley could not be reached for comment. He resigned from the city Jan. 24 following an executive session on the findings of the investigation, which also noted that he did not inform human resources of concerns from the woman who claimed her coworkers “tormented” her with rumors regarding her relationship with him. Woolley, whose salary and benefits totalled $175,321, did not receive any severance but was compensated for unused vacation days.
During that same meeting, the city council unanimously agreed to waive its attorney-client privilege and make the report, dated Jan. 18, available to the public.
“After receiving multiple complaints by staff regarding Mr. Woolley, we felt compelled to conduct a thorough investigation by a third-party firm that specializes in employment law,” said Councilman Harry Hardman. “After reading the results of the detailed report several times, it was clear to me that a change needed to be made and we accepted Mr. Woolley’s resignation.”
The report notes concerns regarding Woolley and the woman date back to July 2020 but surfaced after the termination of City Administrator Paul Virgadamo Jr. by the council in August.
“Employees may have felt more comfortable coming forward, with the turnover that occurred in the position of city ad
ministrator,” said newly appointed City Administrator Gary Scott. “What I do know is that multiple complaints by staff were received. And, the council felt compelled to conduct a thorough investigation.”
The report states 18 people were interviewed during the investigation. Of those, 15 provided written statements on “procurement irregularities” and an “inappropriate relationship” with a female employee they stated resulted in one employee “not held to the same standard as everyone else.”
“It was a situation he created; even though he asserted he gave other employees accommodations, there was no evidence he was permissive with other employees as he was with (the female employee),” the report also states.
While employees did not have specific proof of a relationship between Woolley and the female employee, they did provide information on numerous sightings of the two together for extended periods, such as the woman leaving during the day to go to the gym and being allowed to shower and change clothes before returning to work, the report states.
Several employees, the report states, said the female employee would accompany Woolley to meetings outside the office. Woolley told Gannaway the woman went to meetings with him to “take notes.”
The report also outlines two incidents where the female employee’s husband came to the office looking for his wife after suspecting she was having a relationship with Woolley.
In a three-hour interview Dec. 5, the woman told Gannaway she was “scared of Woolley” because he would frequently get angry with her when she tried to “avoid” him and was frustrated he did nothing to stop rumors among coworkers regarding her job and her relationship with him. The report does not indicate if the woman contacted the city’s human resources department with her concerns.
The rumors and Woolley’s lack of response were creating morale problems, the report said.
“Woolley had been told by numerous subordinates that his treatment of (the female employee) was causing morale problems. Woolley did not seem to understand he is responsible for allowing these beliefs and comments about (the female employee) to continue. Woolley allowed employees to perceive there was an inappropriate relationship and/or favoritism toward (the female employee),” the report states.
Gannaway also investigated complaints of procurement irregularities from the staff. While the investigation revealed no finding of irregularities, the report noted Woolley said Virgadamo allowed for staff to attend hunting and fishing trips with companies that do business with the city.
Scott said the city is working on a reorganization plan that will "maximize the talent of current staff more efficiently and cost-effectively address the needs of the city."
The resignation of Woolley comes on the heels of the council’s firing Virgadamo in August citing a lack of communication and accepting the resignation of Director of Finance Steve Williams, who was criticized for approving invoices from a construction firm for thousands of dollars in expenses for meals, sunglasses and T-shirts.
Woolley had been with the city since July 2012. Before that, Woolley spent 22 years with the Texas Department of Transportation.
In October 2017, Woolley was appointed as interim director of engineering following the resignation of Director of Public Works Scott Taylor.
Later that year, Norman McGuire was appointed to head up the public works department and Woolley was made director of capital projects and transportation.