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Former City of Winslow budget analyst, Olivia Todd addressed the City Council last week during the meeting’s call to the public.
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In her allocated five minutes, Todd explained that she had been fired from her position on May 29, stating, “My employment was terminated during my probationary period ‘without cause.’ While the termination was done and signed by City Manager John Barkley, it was made clear that this was done at the recommendation of my former supervisor, Finance Director Elias Jouen. I was fired for performing my job to the best of my abilities.”
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She continued and spoke about her accomplishments while with the city. “Each accomplishment was hard fought, beginning with the establishment of the new grants fund to track restricted grant funds separately from the unrestricted general fund. I knew from prior training and experience that the co-mingling of restricted grant funds with unrestricted general funds could result in the city losing these grants or being rejected for new grant awards in the future.”
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Todd explained that her suggestions were not well received by Jouen. “When I suggested this change on March 7, Mr. Jouen gave me excuses for not making the changes. In that conversation, Mr. Jouen informed me that he was reconsidering whether or not I was the right person for the job.
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“Mr. Jouen never apologized for threatening my job, nor did he ever thank me for bringing this issue to his attention, though he was content to take the credit for the change during the budget presentations.”
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Todd’s concerns did not end there. She continued to address the treatment she allegedly received from Jouen. “When discussing the creation of a new expense code to track expenses related to vehicle impounds, which must be tracked separately by statute but until July 1 were not, Mr. Jouen and I spoke about the components of expense codes which ended with him yelling at me, bringing me to tears and striking fear in me to the point that I felt I needed to remove myself from the room.”
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According to Todd, this instance was not the only one of its nature. She continued “As a budget analyst, it was my responsibility to ask questions in order to identify and rectify accounting errors and, just as importantly, to identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations on how those improvements could be made. Unfortunately, Mr. Jouen considered my questioning “insubordination” and placed me on a Performance Improvement Plan. When I countered in writing and was able to show that the Performance Improvement Plan was substantively false, it was pulled. I had hoped that was the end of it, but my termination proved otherwise.”
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Todd also spoke about alleged accounting errors made by the department. In her opinion, she said, “I was fired for asking questions that shone a light on accounting errors and incorrect accounting practices in the City Finance Department under Mr. Jouen’s direction. I asked about grants. I questioned many aspects of the budget, including a number Mr. Jouen made up to make it appear the city’s budget comes in under the EEC’s (Economic Estimates Commission) expenditure limitation when, in fact, the budget exceeds that limit by well over half a million dollars.
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“This number was on the budget you adopted at the last meeting. Mr. Jouen knew it to be false but presented it to you for your approval anyway. I questioned Mr. Jouen’s estimate of $3.4 million in city sales tax revenues; I recommended $3 million based on FY19 projections, but Mr. Jouen insisted on the higher number to allow for increased expenditures. I questioned budgeting a deficit of over $3 million that is not strictly necessary to ensure continuity of operations.”
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Despite being let go, Todd mentioned that both the mayor and council and Jouen had praised her work. “You praised me for the charts I added to the monthly financial reports. I put together the budget presentations for the work session and tentative budget. I added notes, for the first time ever, into the budget in Caselle so any questions about why certain amounts were budgeted could be quickly and easily answered. Even Mr. Jouen, in my Performance Improvement Plan, stated that my “work results are excellent.” I made it my professional mission to improve the transparency and accuracy of the city’s finances, and I worked every single day toward accomplishing it.”
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Todd was unable to finish her statement during her allotted five minutes, but it was continued by another concerned resident, Vicky Schafer. Schafer read from Todd’s prepared statement, “Mr. Jouen recommended, and Mr. Barkley agreed, to terminate my employment because I asked too many questions. He does not have that same power over you. I implore each of you to examine the budget, again, very carefully. Scrutinize the monthly financial reports and the budget vs. actual reports. Ask questions, and don’t be satisfied with excuses like ‘corrupted formulas’ when prior reports were accurate.
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“Mr. Jouen told you, in the council meeting where you approved the Waste Management contract, the proposed rate increase for solid waste pickup is only $3 per month; yet the fee schedule you’re about to adopt—which was in the budget binder you had at that meeting–clearly shows the increase is actually $4.55 per month, $54.60 per household per year, or nearly 16 percent. Did you notice that several FY19 budgeted expense line items changed in the last half of the fiscal year without your prior knowledge and approval? That’s because Mr. Jouen directed me to complete budget transfers prior to obtaining your approval in violation of Article V, Section 11 of the City Code.”
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Todd’s statement concluded, as read by Schafer, “Ask questions. The city—the people who voted you in—are entitled to transparent, accurate accounting of their tax dollars. We deserve a finance director who is competent, truthful, and accountable; who does not compromise staff by asking them to do things that violate city code and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; who does not verbally abuse his employees. We count on you, our elected representatives, to demand the same on our behalf.”
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Because Todd’s statement was made during the call to the public, the mayor and council were not able to comment on what she said or ask any questions of her. In a follow up interview with Todd, it was revealed that she appealed her dismissal with the City of Winslow Human Resources Director David Coolidge. That appeal for reinstatement was denied by the city and she was informed by mail. Todd has contacted an attorney and is exploring her options in what she believes to be a wrongful termination case.
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A request for comment on Todd’s remarks from Jouen was not received as of press time.
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