Pelham investigation clears city manager of key allegations

PELHAM, Ala. —

A workplace complaint from Pelham’s police chief about the city manager has grown into a broader discussion about city leadership after an independent investigation and a special-called City Council meeting Thursday.

Police Chief Edward Delmore raised concerns in September about City Manager Gretchen DiFante’s behavior, including whether she was using drugs and if she had created a toxic workplace. Both officials were placed on administrative leave while the city investigated.

The city got the findings of the investigation back on Tuesday. The investigator concluded that DiFante was not taking illegal or prescribed medication that negatively affected her ability to do her job and had not created a toxic work environment involving bullying or inappropriate behavior. The report also documented differing views of DiFante’s leadership, and residents brought questions about the investigation and the city’s future to Thursday’s meeting.

Mayor Rick Wash said DiFante is still on administrative leave, but he expects her to come back to work soon. The mayor said Delmore is now on personal leave he requested before raising the allegations.

What the investigation found

Investigator Aldos L. Vance interviewed 38 people, including department heads, the mayor, council members, Delmore and DiFante. He also reviewed documents, emails and a recording. Vance based his conclusions on a preponderance of the evidence standard—meaning if something was more likely than not. The summary said DiFante passed a drug test taken Sept. 22 and a verified prescription medication was noted.

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The report also said witnesses to a Sept. 10 leadership training did not believe DiFante was impaired. Four found her presentation disorganized or off-topic, while some found it useful. Vance wrote that even though Delmore’s underlying concerns were not validated, the chief’s observations and perceptions as written were not necessarily false, with one exception. The exception involved whether other employees previously raised concerns with Wash. The mayor denied that anyone had brought concerns about DiFante’s mental state or possible drug use to him before Delmore did. The overall allegations in Delmore’s written statement, however, were unfounded.

The report also identified several themes from the interviews:

• Sixteen witnesses expressed some respect for or a positive view of DiFante’s leadership.
• Sixteen witnesses described her behavior toward others as suspicious, overly watchful, defensive and at times erratic.
• Fourteen witnesses described her behavior as controlling.

The report does not say whether those groups overlapped. Vance also wrote that two city employees did not trust or like working with DiFante while other co-workers liked working with her.

Why the police chief was placed on leave

At Thursday’s meeting, resident Russell Platt questioned what Delmore’s leave might mean for other city employees who raise concerns.

“If a department head can raise concerns about a supervisor and be placed on leave within days without public explanation, what does that tell everyone else who works for the city?” Platt asked.

Wash said he placed Delmore on administrative leave because the chief did not follow directions during the investigation. The mayor said Delmore failed to provide a written statement when requested and repeatedly violated directions not to discuss the matter with employees and members of the public. Wash said the conduct interfered with the investigation and denied that the leave was retaliation.

The mayor said the council unanimously placed DiFante on administrative leave after receiving Delmore’s written complaint. He said administrative leave allowed the city to investigate and was not an admission of wrongdoing.

The investigation summary also said Delmore told DiFante and Wash before the investigation that he was leaving Pelham. He confirmed that during his interview and said his relationship with the city manager was irreparable, according to the report. The summary does not say when he planned to leave.

What happens next?

The council is expected to discuss how the city moves forward at its Nov. 16 meeting, including questions about the city manager’s role and how Pelham’s government operates. Wash said the city manager is appointed by and answers to the council. The police chief is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the mayor. The mayor said a 2017 council resolution assigned the city’s administrative and operational duties to the city manager. He said he would support the council’s decision on the direction of city government.

Wash also expressed regret that what he described as a human resources complaint became public.

“I wish we could go back and turn back the hands of time and do this differently,” he said.

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