Grey County’s Transportation and Public Safety department is in for “a major overhaul.”
A review of the department by a consulting firm accuses “certain departmental managers” of creating what’s being called a “longstanding climate of oppression and fear” within TAPS.
The news comes in the wake of the sudden departure of longtime director Gary Shaw and another senior employee.
Shaw’s sudden retirement was announced last month after 47 years of service, and technical supervisor Garry Howey left after 42 years.
Grey County CAO Lance Thurston presented the report to County Council on Tuesday.
He says their departures are related to the departmental review, but he says both men left on their own terms.
According to the review, more than half of the department’s staff members said they felt their work was not valued.
The report also states there has been confusion and a lack of clarity regarding who’s responsible for various job functions, which has led to overlap and duplication and a lack of proper oversight.
The review is clear that the department has a “need for improved departmental leadership, organizational capabilities and human resource management.”
There have been few accounting and financial controls in areas like purchasing, permit processing and payment collection.
The county sign shop and the quarry have also been deemed too expensive.
Thurston says staff were initially reluctant to speak openly about issues within the department, but eventually opened up after realizing their concerns would be taken seriously.
He says the change in morale in the past few weeks has been remarkable.
Council accepted the review on Tuesday with no debate or discussion.
But Thurston says council has long been aware of the problems within the department — so much so that the issues were brought to his attention when he was hired in early 2010.
