From: Jen Sullivan <Jen@guildaylaw.com>
Date: December 19, 2017 at 8:07:06 AM
Subject: BCC- Changes to Personnel Manual
Melanie,
I am going to try to make it to the Commission meeting this morning to speak, but I am sending this to you in the case I don't make it in time. The email below is relevant to the BCC discussion today regarding the proposed policy for employees having a third party attend a workplace interview.
Sidney initially told me over the phone it was the investigator's policy that no one attend the interview, but (as you can see below), the Constangy investigator emailed me on Oct. 15th that it was the County's position that I could not attend my clients' interviews (not the investigator's position). The County should, at the very least, allow an employee to have someone with them in any such interview--whether it be a co-worker, a representative, an attorney, or a someone to support that employee and take notes for or on behalf
From: "Wheeler, Gary" <gwheeler@constangy.com>
Date: October 15, 2017 at 5:05:18 PM CDT
To: "Jen@guildaylaw.com" <Jen@guildaylaw.com>
Cc: Sidney Noyes <NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us>
Subject: RE: Dede Hinote - Interview
Ms. Sullivan:
Ms. Noyes forwarded your correspondence below to me for response.
The County will be conducting an internal workplace investigation, as you requested, into Ms. Hinote's allegations raised in your letter of October 6, 2017. I will be serving as investigator.
Ms. Hinote is not required to participate although the County would certainly prefer that she does since the investigation is in response to her allegations. The reason that the County will not permit you or another attorney representing her to attend is that the County does not believe that it is helpful to create a precedent of allowing interviewees to bring others, including attorneys, with them to internal, workplace investigations.
The interview will not be recorded by audio or video but I will be taking handwritten notes.
Thank you,
Gary
Gary Wheeler
Partner
Direct: 904.357.2655 * Direct Fax: 904.236.5708
E-mail: gwheeler@constangy.com
Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP
200 West Forsyth Street
Suite 1700
Jacksonville, FL 32202-4317
Main: 904.356.8900 * Fax: 904.356.8200 * www.constangy.com
Alabama * California * Colorado * Florida * Georgia
Massachusetts * Missouri * New Jersey * New York * North Carolina
South Carolina * Tennessee * Texas * Virginia * Wisconsin
****
From: Jen Sullivan [mailto:Jen@guildaylaw.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2017 5:15 PM
To: Sidney Noyes <NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us<mailto:NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us>>
Subject: Dede Hinote - Interview
Sidney,
I have a few questions for you regarding the interview of Dede Hinote on Monday. First, what is the basis for not allowing my client's attorney to attend her interview on Monday by your outside counsel's office? Please forward the authority for same. Second, does the interviewer intend to record this interview in any way (audio, video)?
Jen
Jen Sullivan
Shareholder
<image001.png><image002.jpg>
Guilday, Simpson, West,
Hatch, Lowe & Roane, P.A.
36468 Emerald Coast Parkway
Old South Centre * Suite 2101
Destin, Florida 32541
Date: December 19, 2017 at 8:07:06 AM
Subject: BCC- Changes to Personnel Manual
Melanie,
I am going to try to make it to the Commission meeting this morning to speak, but I am sending this to you in the case I don't make it in time. The email below is relevant to the BCC discussion today regarding the proposed policy for employees having a third party attend a workplace interview.
Sidney initially told me over the phone it was the investigator's policy that no one attend the interview, but (as you can see below), the Constangy investigator emailed me on Oct. 15th that it was the County's position that I could not attend my clients' interviews (not the investigator's position). The County should, at the very least, allow an employee to have someone with them in any such interview--whether it be a co-worker, a representative, an attorney, or a someone to support that employee and take notes for or on behalf
From: "Wheeler, Gary" <gwheeler@constangy.com>
Date: October 15, 2017 at 5:05:18 PM CDT
To: "Jen@guildaylaw.com" <Jen@guildaylaw.com>
Cc: Sidney Noyes <NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us>
Subject: RE: Dede Hinote - Interview
Ms. Sullivan:
Ms. Noyes forwarded your correspondence below to me for response.
The County will be conducting an internal workplace investigation, as you requested, into Ms. Hinote's allegations raised in your letter of October 6, 2017. I will be serving as investigator.
Ms. Hinote is not required to participate although the County would certainly prefer that she does since the investigation is in response to her allegations. The reason that the County will not permit you or another attorney representing her to attend is that the County does not believe that it is helpful to create a precedent of allowing interviewees to bring others, including attorneys, with them to internal, workplace investigations.
The interview will not be recorded by audio or video but I will be taking handwritten notes.
Thank you,
Gary
Gary Wheeler
Partner
Direct: 904.357.2655 * Direct Fax: 904.236.5708
E-mail: gwheeler@constangy.com
Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP
200 West Forsyth Street
Suite 1700
Jacksonville, FL 32202-4317
Main: 904.356.8900 * Fax: 904.356.8200 * www.constangy.com
Alabama * California * Colorado * Florida * Georgia
Massachusetts * Missouri * New Jersey * New York * North Carolina
South Carolina * Tennessee * Texas * Virginia * Wisconsin
****
From: Jen Sullivan [mailto:Jen@guildaylaw.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2017 5:15 PM
To: Sidney Noyes <NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us<mailto:NoySidney@co.walton.fl.us>>
Subject: Dede Hinote - Interview
Sidney,
I have a few questions for you regarding the interview of Dede Hinote on Monday. First, what is the basis for not allowing my client's attorney to attend her interview on Monday by your outside counsel's office? Please forward the authority for same. Second, does the interviewer intend to record this interview in any way (audio, video)?
Jen
Jen Sullivan
Shareholder
<image001.png><image002.jpg>
Guilday, Simpson, West,
Hatch, Lowe & Roane, P.A.
36468 Emerald Coast Parkway
Old South Centre * Suite 2101
Destin, Florida 32541
