Watchdog on patrol at City Hall

Wednesday, July 12, 2006 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_356.php
One year to the day after embattled Vernon mayor Sean Harvey stepped down, the current mayor announced Tuesday that a new watchdog has been brought in to investigate staff allegations at City Hall.Newly-hired outside compliance officer Valerie Harrison moved to Vernon about a year ago and read with interest about the scandals swirling around City Hall. When the compliance position was created in the following months, the 30-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department knew it was her kind of work.“The (human resources) component and the investigative component seemed like a perfect fit,” she said. “I have a rather extensive policing background.”Harrison said she bought retirement property in Vernon several years ago. She said that becoming an investigator for the city was not part of the original retirement plan.“I’m newly retired, so maybe I’m not completely ready to retire,” she said.Over the coming weeks, Harrison said she will be introduced to staff so that they feel comfortable enough to bring issues to her. Harrison’s main duties will be to administer the new whistleblower policy that the city enacted in 2005.“It’s strictly on an as needed basis. If someone in the city has a concern and is not confident going through official channels – I’m the outside person they can talk to.”The whistleblower policy encourages employees to bring their concerns about harassment or unethical behaviour to their supervisors. Harrison’s task will be to investigate all of the allegations or complaints that staff bring directly to her.Harrison will then report the result of the investigation to council so that action can be taken to remedy the situation.Mayor Wayne Lippert said that the city had three very good candidates but chose Harrison because of her experience working with law enforcement.“Basically, we thought that with her experience she was the one that fit the bill,” he said.Lippert said that Harrison performed similar work for the RCMP, where as the senior in command of a district of 130 members, she dealt with working conditions, staffing shortages, crime problems and addressed the concerns of the community.Hiring a compliance officer will make the city a better place to work, Lippert said. The entire whistleblower policy is designed to create a more comfortable work environment.“I think things are pretty good here right now,” he said. “Unfortunately, the reputation (of the city) hasn’t been very good. We’re working hard to give it a good reputation.”With a compliance officer, Lippert said he envisions a more open and accountable city hall.“This will make it easier for staff and council to get a problem out there,” he said. “Any kind of harassment, any kind of wrongdoing . . . there is a procedure to deal with it.”