Case #0404 City of Tracy Reason for Investigation:

The Assistant City Manager has wielded her authority over the Human Resources Manager in a way that undermined decisions made in her division.

The former Human Resources Analyst, whose work in Human Resources was deemed deficient by the Human Resources Manager, resigned knowing that a position would be made available to her in the Community Development Department. Based on documentation and testimony, it appears that this was accomplished with the knowledge and cooperation of the Assistant City Manager.

The City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office were non-responsive to numerous requests for specific information. Although we made specific requests, they sent reams of unnecessary material.

The Grand Jury finds that the Assistant City Manager displayed what appears to be a marked pattern of favoritism & cronyism, a) by changing the Oral Board Examination questions and tailoring them to favor the candidate with whom she had a previous work relationship, and b) she appears to have engineered the transfer of the analyst to the Community Development Department.

There were no improper or unfair employment practices exercised against minorities as alleged in the original complaints.

The Assistant City Manager used poor judgment in sitting on the Qualifications Appraisal Board of her former subordinate from another city, and participating in the debriefing process.