Ex-employee's allegations to be independently reviewed

An email the city’s former senior internal auditor sent to the city commissioners Sept. 16 has prompted them to seek an investigation into one of the city’s departments.

During its Monday, Oct. 3, regular meeting, the commission voted 5-0 to have Commissioner Shannon Snyder find a local, retired senior judge to review allegations made by former employee Maryellen McGrath against City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini’s office.

McGrath, the city’s senior internal auditor for only four weeks, wrote an email to the commissioners last month after she resigned. McGrath questioned the way the audit regarding the Newtown youth program double-billing scandal was performed and released, claimed her audit manager spent her days searching town emails and said she doesn’t believe the department is following proper procedures.

“The Auditor and Clerk’s Office is a liability rather than an asset to the city of Sarasota, conducting audits in a combative nature with the auditees rather than working with them,” McGrath wrote. “The approach of the audit department does not provide or suggest recommendations for improvements to the city’s processes and procedures to save the taxpayers money or provide employees with guidance on an efficient process to alleviate their workload.”

Nadalini’s department has since released a 25-page response from employees who had encounters with McGrath and witnessed her abrupt departure. The employee comments overwhelmingly refute McGrath’s claims.

Nonetheless, Vice Mayor Terry Turner told the commission McGrath’s email should not be ignored.

“From our point of view, we have no way to verify or discredit her allegations,” Turner said. “I have no idea whether the allegations are true, but (McGrath) has 20 years in auditing experience and graduated in the top of her class.”

Although the rest of the commissioners agreed, Snyder suggested the city save money by recruiting a retired senior judge to perform the service for free.

Commissioner Paul Caragiulo agreed with that suggestion, but he said the commission would find nothing wrong with the department.

“I’m fine with it, but I think (the analysis) won’t take more than a few minutes,” Caragiulo said.

Turner said that’s his overall goal as well.

“It’s my hope the allegations are unfounded,” Turner said.

Commissioner Willie Shaw, who has an extensive background in personnel relations and is already acting as a mediator between City Manager Bob Bartolotta’s office and Nadalini’s department, also approved the decision.

“If transparency is what we’re looking for, that’s what we will get,” Shaw said.