June 21, 2002 - Utilities Interview Team's
Recommendations; does not specify charges of abuse, but makes a large number of
recommendations for future procedural and personnel issues in order to avoid
repeating the same mistakes. Prepared by Risk Manager Jane O'Connor, Venice Fire
Chief Mike Johnson and Asst. City Manager Marty Black. -- Page
1 -- Page 2 -- Page
3 -- Page 4 -- Page
5 -- Page 6
June 25, 2002 - Letter from Andrew Froman, attorney for
the four accused supervisors, to City Manager George Hunt; Froman praises the
four supervisors, states that those who have made accusations have committed
slander and defamation. -- Page
1 -- Page 2 -- Page
3
July 17, 2002 - Memo from accused
supervisor John Saputo to Personnel Director Rollie Reynolds, in which Saputo alleges that George Hunt's competency
and mental abilities are compromised due to medication: "This is a man who
is in charge of the entire city's operation and he displayed, what I believe to
be, the actions of a person that would be unable to pass a field sobriety
test." -- Page
1 -- Page 2
July 17, 2002 - Letter from Andrew
Froman to George Hunt; Froman complains that
the city's rules and procedures for pursuing disciplinary actions are unclear
and that even Hunt is unclear about the procedures; public records request for
the investigative notes; request for Hunt to "not take to heart" John
Saputo's memo of July 17. -- Page
1 -- Page 2 -- Page
3
July 23, 2002 - STATEMENTS OF
CHARGES
Utilities Director John Lane's initial summary of charges, list of charged offenses and
his own recommendations for punishment of the four supervisors:
John Brennan -- Yelling and screaming,
berating employees, conduct unbecoming of a city employee (5 day suspension and
written reprimand) --
Page
1
John Saputo -- Verbal and e-mailed threats, failure to report a
vehicular accident, creating an unsafe working environment (5 day suspension and written
reprimand) --
Page
1
Shane Saputo -- Threats, bullying, inappropriate e-mails,
inspiring fear of retaliation, physical abuse, fighting/horseplay, vulgar and malicious
statements and actions, conduct unbecoming of a city employee, more... (discharge from employment)
--
Page 1
--
Page 2
--
Page 3
Patricia Wilson -- Verbal threats and intimidation, creating fear
of retribution, failing to keep a safe working environment, conduct
unbecoming of a city employee (5 day suspension and written
reprimand) --
Page
1 -- Page 2
August 5, 2002 - Pollution Control
Supervisory Personnel Recommendation - memo from John Lane to George Hunt, in
which Lane reverses himself on his recommendations of July 23: "I have been unable to convince myself that
hostility exists throughout pollution control... I cannot in all good conscience
recommend discipline of the Pollution Control supervisory personnel." -- Page
1 -- Page 2 -- Page
3 -- Page 4 -- Page
5
August 13, 2002 - AFSCME Union rep Dennis Rodriguez
speaks before city council. Rodriguez states that there is a culture of
retribution in the Utilities Department and that the city has done nothing to
change it. Speakers: Dennis Rodriguez, Mayor Dean Calamaras -- MP3
(2.5MBs)
August 13, 2002 - John Patten of Venice
Florida! dot com tells council that the culture of retribution described by
Rodriguez is endemic to the way the city government handles its problems with
employees, citizens and the media. Examples cited are himself, a former
employee of the city who was fired after complaining to the union, and a WWSB
News40 TV reporter. Speakers: John Patten, George Hunt, Mayor Dean Calamaras - MP3
(2.5MBs)
