All former employees of the North Oakland Transportation Authority will be invited to meet with members of a special committee to share their experiences, concerns, opinions and complaints, if any, about their days driving and dispatching.
‘If they don’t want to show, they don’t want to show,? said at-large NOTA member Eric Wilson, who’s also an Oakland County road commissioner. ‘But at least they’ll get an opportunity to express their point of view.?
Last week, the NOTA board voted 7-1 to send a letter to all previous employees inviting them to meet in private with at least two members of a committee set up to review the authority’s policies and procedures.
Past employees are asked to contact at-large NOTA member Lisa Sokol, who will arrange times, dates and locations for the private meetings.
‘A lot of times you get better comments in that situation,? said Wilson, noting speaking in front of an audience and television cameras makes some people uncomfortable.
The idea of soliciting comments from former employees initially came from NOTA member and Oxford Twp. Supervisor Bill Dunn.
Dunn explained that in order for NOTA to ‘finally put . . . to bed? all the allegations concerning its executive director, Pat Fitchena, the entire board needs to hear directly from those who lodged complaints against her.
In July 2007, former NOTA Operations Manager Danny Poole and a group of eight current and former employees met with the township supervisors of Oxford, Addison and Orion.
A letter from Poole detailing allegations against Fitchena ranging from physical/verbal abuse of employees and misuse of NOTA resources to wasteful spending and policy violations was presented to the township supervisors.
‘I think it’s imperative that we take a look at all this so we can honestly sit here and say we did investigate it,? Dunn said. ‘Let’s hear their side of the story or else we’re not doing our job.?
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation into allegations that Fitchena assaulted some former employees was closed because none of the involved parties had previously pressed criminal charges nor did they wish to now.
However, the sheriff’s report noted ‘other concerns that were raised regarding the use of equipment are operational issues, not criminal matters, and would best be addressed by the NOTA board.?
Dunn’s idea of having the complainants address the full NOTA board was met with opposition.
‘What are we going to accomplish other than stirring things up?? said Wilson, who admitted he’s ‘never seen? Poole’s letter. ‘Are we going to hear some additional thing that’s new? I don’t think so because nothing (new) has come up that we’ve heard in the last six months.?
Wilson and other board members noted that Poole and any other former employees with complaints had ample opportunity to come to NOTA meetings and speak up during public comment, but none had done so thus far. ‘We’d love to hear from you at the meeting,? Wilson said.
Brenda Wilson, a NOTA member representing the nonprofit mental health agency Training & Treatment Innovations, suggested inviting all former employees ? not just ones known to have complaints ? to speak with at least two members of the policies and procedures committee about their experiences as sort of an ‘exit interview.?
‘Hopefully, that will address a lot of the issues that have been raised,? she said.
‘That’s a much (more private), easier way to do it,? said Eric Wilson, who endorsed her idea in the form of a motion.
Dunn cast the lone dissenting vote because he felt the entire NOTA board should be handling this matter, not just a committee.