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City Workers File Complaint Against Boss

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

TAMPA - Several workers in the city's risk management department filed a formal complaint against their boss Friday, accusing him of threatening and intimidating his employees.

Employees, including claims investigator Scott Belluccio and administrative assistant Maggie DeJesus, say Risk Manager Bill Cody has threatened to "blow us all up." They also said he has made inappropriate comments about drugs by making references to smoking pot and asking his workers if they "have a dime bag." They also say Cody inappropriately grabbed his crotch in front of employees.

"It's a hostile environment," DeJesus said. "We don't know what to expect from him."

Cody, who makes about $89,000, was hired in July after leaving his previous job in College Station, Texas, in February 2007. Letters in his College Station personnel file indicate his boss had problems with him, but Tampa officials did not review his personnel file before hiring him.

Cody said Friday he hadn't seen the formal grievance but said he had apologized to his employees.

"There were some comments I had made way back in the month of October out of frustration," Cody said. "When the inappropriate behavior was brought to my attention, I corrected it. It was inappropriate, I agree. No malice was behind it at all."

Cody said he has been seeking help through the Employee Assistance Program.

His supervisor, Human Resources Director Kimberly Crum, said she was made aware of possible problems with Cody when several employees in January wrote an anonymous letter. She said some of the complaints were corroborated, including the references to drug use and foul language. The comment about blowing up the building if he lost his job, she said, "was not largely corroborated."

While employees in the risk management division say Crum hasn't adequately handled the situation, Crum said she has been involved. She said Cody was reprimanded, counseled and referred to the Employee Assistance Program.

Also at issue is the city's review process when hiring employees. Crum said the city checks references and does a criminal background check. The city, however, does not regularly review applicants' personnel files.

In Cody's case, Crum recalls talking to workers in College Station's finance and police departments who she said gave him "glowing" recommendations.

His personnel file paints a different picture.

The Tribune requested a copy of Cody's file from College Station. The file includes a July 2006 letter from his department director outlining areas in which Cody needs to improve.

That letter was followed in October 2006 with a "performance counseling" memo, in which his boss wrote: "I have lost confidence in your ability to do your job as the Risk Manager in the Human Resources Department. I need to see immediate improvement or you will be terminated."

The boss complained that Cody took a day off without permission and didn't follow through on assigned tasks.

Cody resigned four months later. On Friday, Cody said he resigned of "his own accord."
Crum said she didn't know about the letters in Cody's file in College Station.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius @tampatrib.com.

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