The Walton Commission Chairman officially called for an Admonishment of the TDC Director over comments made on the job. Commissioner Bill Imfeld said he was going to Admonish TDC Director Jim Bagby based on the recommendation of the independent attorney review of an allegation charge by an employee.
Imfeld said the recommendation is to Admonish Bagby for comments made and for Bagby to take training for proper conduct in the workplace. Imfeld’s recommendation is based on a report from a legal firm hired to review the charge brought by Michele Ray, who also listed witnesses.
the Memorandum by Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete, LLP lists people interviewed. The report details Ray’s job and pay changes, comments she says Bagby made about “getting rid of her” and says Bagby has unfairly scrutinized the work of two male employees. She also detailed other decisions she disagreed with and conduct she considers inappropriate, a comment about church and a comment that possibly had a sexual connotation. Some of these were verified by witnesses. There was also a comment she says Bagby made in a meeting about shooting county employee Gary Demers in the face .
Bagby denied making some of the comments, including the remark about shooting Demers and the questioned sexual statement. Not all the witnesses said they heard all the remarks. Bagby also denied he had an agenda to get rid of Ray.
The findings by the firm say Ms. Ray was not subjected to a hostile work environment based on her gender. It also states that the majority of Ms. Ray’s complaints call into the wisdom and fairness of Bagby and the level of scrutiny he subjected to her, but concludes there is not a factual basis to suggest Bagby discriminated against her. The investigation says the wisdom and fairness of Bagby’s decisions are beyond the scope of the investigation. The report also states the comment reportedly made about shooting Demers is concerning and likely did happen based on the amount of witnesses. It notes the statement reportedly happened a year and a half earlier and is against policy. This is the why there was a recommendation of Admonishment.
Commissioner Cecilia Jones said the allegations are very serious and should not be taken lightly. She said there are other complaints she has heard of. She said Bagby is one of the highest paid employees and he should know what is appropriate. Jones said she had an hour and a half talk with Bagby about the charge and other issues. She said employees have left crying.
Imfeld said he has given the direction and admonished Bagby. Jones said she knows the two are friends. Imfeld said he has, “No problem chewing his butt off.” Commissioner Cindy Meadows said she has heard inappropriate comments and the issue took place over a year ago. She recommends that next time something happens they come forth quicker. Meadows said there are a lot of other issues and they need to move forward.
Art Miller, with the TDC Board, thanked Imfeld for his decision. Miller said the way this was handled has been an effort in character assignation. He said making this part of the public forum is unconscionable. Don Riley echoed what Commissioner Meadows said. He also noted that most everyone in the room have said something inappropriate or tried to say something funny, but it fell flat. He said this is not improving things for Walton County. Riley said Bagby might be guilty of a bad joke, but firing him would not make the county better. Bill Fletcher said, if the employees felt the comment was that bad, then why did it take almost two years to bring it up. Commissioner Jones said the employees were scared.
Meadows said an employee was retained after she had discretions, she left the TDC, but came back and Bagby hired her back. She said this does not indicate a hostile workplace.
Bagby is admonished and has to take proper workplace training. He was not at the meeting due to being out of town on job related business.