Editor:

Regarding the town of Basalt’s Roderick O’Connor personnel matter, just for clarification, does the employee handbook delegate to the finance director the primary role of human resources director in cases of grievance or discipline? Yes it does. Does the finance director with unbiased impunity investigate, review, and recommend resolution, discipline and/or termination to the town manager alone? I’m not sure. And in cases where the finance director might be in conflict with another employee or someone under the above supervision, does the handbook make it clear the separation of these roles in fairness to the employees and process? No it doesn’t.

I believe the finance director of Basalt has recently assumed the role of acting town manager while the transition to the new town manger is taking place. So, in the employee handbook it states if you have a grievance and would like to get help, you will now be sitting down with a town representative who you want to have advocate for you and now also will be the person who will discipline you? I find it is one of those things that make you say “Hmmmm.”

My question is: What human resource training does the finance director currently hold and regularly continue updating? And town manager training? This arrangement of one person assuming all these vital roles is a muddy, slippery slope to the employees, residents and visitors of the town of Basalt

CO Bailey
Pitkin County