Tougher discipline initially recommended for Youth and Family Development director

Maura Sullivan

Chattanooga Chief Operating Officer Maura Sullivan stands by her decision to punish Youth and Family Development Administrator Lurone Jennings for misusing $27,500 in nonprofit money with a one-week unpaid suspension and a loss of say-so over his department's financial decisions.

Jennings failed to follow rules when he distributed Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga donations and grants, according to a city audit memo. He gave $18,500 to his daughter's nonprofit group, which provides a summer camp for disabled children. However, the money was supposed to go to the Youth and Family Development department to help educational services for high school students, work scholarships and temporary jobs.

Since Jennings took his suspension in early December, City Councilman Larry Grohn and community leader Kevin Muhammad have criticized the discipline measured out by the city. An internal city email reveals Todd Dockery, the city's human resources director, actually recommended tougher disciplinary action.

In a Dec. 9 email to Sullivan, Dockery said he wanted to go on record stating his department did not recommend a five-day suspension, nor was the department involved in "the final discussion of the suspension timeframe."

"It was clear during our discussion [on Dec. 8] that a termination was not an option, so the initial HR recommendation was for demotion," Dockery said.

When Sullivan refused to demote Jennings, Dockery recommended a 30-day suspension, the maximum suspension allowed by the employee guidebook.

"Like with any decision of employee discipline, we expect supervisors to take into consideration a variety of factors and information," Sullivan said in an email Friday.

She said she worked with then-Deputy Chief Operating Officer David Carmody, who left the city for private business in January, to review the employee information guide, consult with human resources and study similar cases to come up with appropriate options.

Based on their research, a suspension ranging from three to 30 days would be appropriate for a first offense involving conflicts of interest, she said.

Jennings' disciplinary action letter cites the employee handbook, stating a city employee may be disciplined, up to and including dismissal, for any just cause, including "inefficiency or negligence in the performance of one's duties." It also calls attention to rules prohibiting actions that might result or create the appearance of preferential treatment to any person in contradiction with the city's best interests.

Sullivan said she spoke with Dockery and Carmody at length and "had several discussions with team members" because she values their thoughts, opinions and expertise. No "final discussion," as mentioned in Dockery's email, took place, Sullivan said.

"But at the end of the day, I make the final decision on disclipinary matters concerning my direct reports," she said.

Statements attributed to Carmody by city spokeswoman Marissa Bell in a Dec. 9 email tell a nuanced version of events.

"For this type of offense, human resources looked at other past disciplinary measures that are comparable and made a suspension recommendation based off of that," Carmody said. "After receiving the recommendation, the chief operating officer and mayor made a final determination."

What Carmody didn't say was the human resources department actually recommended a 30-day suspension only after demotion and termination were taken off the table.

In her email, Sullivan did not directly refer to Mayor Andy Berke's role in Jennings' suspension and restrictions upon his financial decision-making authority. She clarified the matter in a later email.

"The role he played in the matter is that of my supervisor," Sullivan said. "I wouldn't consider making a unilateral decision that could potentially impact the operations of a major City department without first briefing my boss and making sure he understood how I came to that decision."

Grohn described Jennings' punishment as a "matter of farce perpetrated on the people of Chattanooga."

In a letter to Berke and the City Council, Muhammad called for Jennings' resignation and compared his treatment to that of a Youth and Family Development supervisor who was suspended for 25 days without pay.

City audit records concluded the Washington Hills YFD center had lost $3,295 in the 2015 fiscal year, noting deficient cash handling procedures and the misappropriation of funds by a recreation specialist. The supervisor, Alfred Cantrell, admitted "to making poor decisions," according to a discplinary notification sent to him in December 2015.

"Is it fair dealing when we mete out justice with a heavy hand to those under our charge, yet temper justice with mercy to those in superior positions?" Muhammad asked.

The facts of both situations are very different and detailed in internal audit reports, Sullivan said.

"The City does not publicly compare or debate personnel matters regarding current City employees as it can significantly impact the morale and performance of our entire workforce," Sullivan said.

Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.