Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones today said in a memo the county human resources department "has been instructed to initiate recruitment for a new Internal Audit Department director."
The memo does not indicate what happened to Director Cornita Spears, who announced Tuesday that an audit released this summer failed to account for roughly $33,000 that had been returned to the county.
Spears said the money helped the county account for more than $160,000 that had been spent by the Giving Tree charity program run by the county Department of Social Services. Here is the full story.
Former county finance director Harry Weatherly will serve as interim consulting director for the next 90 days.
The reorganization was included in a memo Jones sends weekly to county commissioners.
Here is the memo:
Changes in Internal Audit Management
As I mentioned at the Board meeting earlier this week, the error associated with the Giving Tree audit is unacceptable for this organization. It has damaged the credibility of the Internal Audit Department and Mecklenburg County as an organization. I have determined that the credibility of the Internal Audit Department cannot be restored with the current management of this department.
Therefore, I have taken the following steps regarding the leadership and management of the Internal Audit Department. Former County Finance Director Harry Weatherly has agreed to serve as Interim Consulting Director of the Internal Audit Department. We will expand our existing services agreement with Mr. Weatherly to serve in this capacity over the next 90 days. In this role, Mr. Weatherly will provide executive oversight of the Internal Audit Department in a consulting capacity. He will report directly to the county manager regarding all matters pertaining to the County’s Internal Audit Department.
Mr. Weatherly will be supported in this interim role by current Internal Audit Department staff member Chris Waddell. Mr. Waddell will serve as Interim Operations Manager for Internal Audit and will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department.
In addition, the Human Resources Department has been instructed to initiate recruitment for a new Internal Audit Department director.
These changes are effective immediately.
--Harry L. Jones, Sr., County Manager
Friday, November 20, 2009
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39 comments:
Okay Harry, next replace Mary Wilson, then Mr Foxx's wife, then Mr. Monroe's daughter, then your daughter and then resign and I might believe you are serious about fixing the reputation of the county. But we all know what you will do. The auditor was offered up as a sacrifice and somehow will be supported by our tax dollars for some time or till they get a new job.
So watch out for who Harry hires and check their background, affliations with Harry's family members, etc.
Harry, how can you not take responsiblity for this mess? This action shows a continuing disregard for what is right and wrong with DSS.
We both know it, don't we.
Harry, Harry, Harry isn't this pretty much shooting the messenger?
Come on you sack of thoroughbred fertilizer, man up and move on.
Word Verification: Bullitio
Must be Italian for BS?
Harry Jones is simply trying to divert attention on this matter by doing something that should have been done months ago when it was first discovered.
First the whole Lomax debacle and now this...do our locally elected government officials still think they're immune from being held accountable by their constituents?
It's time for a clearing of all Mecklenburg and Charlotte 'leaders'. 2012 can't come soon enough!
P.S. diggndeeper is spot on!
That's our county government under Harry. Jake of DSS? Drama, investigation, departure; Personnel Director be4 Kenneth Peek, Drama, investigation, departure; Wayne Weston formerly of Parks and Recreation? Drama, investigation, departure; Now internal auditor? Drama, investigation, departure.
What's the common points?
Drama, investigation, departure, next new hire for the same
dysfunctional culture, and leadership, and Harry.
Jennifer Roberts, where are you?
This is like the captain of the Titanic blaming and replacing the lookouts for hitting the iceberg. Harry Jones is to blame for this sordid mess. He has been running the county, especially the DSS, as his own little company business, hiring his relatives and friends, with total disregard for the county commission and taxpayers. What else is he hiding???
I have to agree with the sentiments here. Make the messenger the scap goat so you don't have to take any responsibility
I am tired of this crap. If the county commissioners do not do their jobs and clean up this mess I know who I will NOT be voting for next elections. By cleaning up this mess I dont mean release a statement and say "Harry Jones is doing his job...Problems at DSS are being reviewed." Do something!!! It's time for people to start getting fired. In my experience when you dont do your job right that's what happens. Why should Harry, Mary and the rest of them be exempt? County drama keeps getting worse and worse! It's making me very upset that our county commissioners are sitting silent. I think it is safe to say the public has lost its trust and faith in County.
Why is Harry to blame? He works for the County Commission? Earth to Jennifer, come in Jennifer!
This is such a poorly written story. Why am I not surprised? The story says "the memo tells what happened to Cornita Spears". No it doesn't. Has Cornita Spears been demoted to another position within DSS? If so, what is the position? Or has Cornita Spears left DSS?
The commissioners should be forced to call an emergency meeting to address the DSS, as well as Wilson and Jones' continued employment.
Let the BOCC go on record as standing with Jones and Wilson.
Then as the rest of the story unfolds they can't claim innocence or ignorance.
If it is blown out of proportion as they say it is fine, if not they can all swing from the gallows together.
The Cedar Post poll is currently 100% for Jones prompt retirement
The stench at DSS grows stronger every day. Harry Jones should have been fired months ago and should have at the least been reprimanded for his handling of the Lomax email. I am a lifelong Democrat and have voted twice for Jennifer Roberts, but will not be voting for her in the future. Her lack of leadership and failure to address the issues is unacceptable.
Wow Harry, really? Ms. Spears has officially been offered as a sacrifice for YOU! Mary Wilson has caused much havoc at DSS and has not been moved. Employees have STOLEN money and have not lost their jobs and have not been criminally indicted. Hmmmmmm...I'm thinking perhaps you do not like Ms. Spears and have used this as your opportunity to get rid of her or at least demote her. Shame on you Harry. If you're thinking of cleaning house...let's start at DSS FIRST.
I am in disbelief that the BOCC has allowed him to continue this long. I used to work for this "fine organization," & know I would be under the jailhouse, had I pulled the "Lomax" stunt. The DSS $$ is the tip of the iceburg; check into the tax office unpostables. I don't wish anyone unemployment, just employment elsewhere.
What else is being hidden....What about Harry Jones Jr. sitting in Mecklenburg County Jail! No joke...check it out yourself
Boy, with all this anti-sentiment against Harry Jones and our BOCC, Charlotte Observer will be sure to 'close' not only the comments, but the story itself. Gotta love our local newspaper rag....it's a wonder why their subscriptions continue to plummet when everyone knows they're in the pocket of our Chamber of Commerce, BOCC, CMS, City Leadership, DSS, United Way...shall I continue?
Betcha dollars to donuts this story 'miraculously' disappears within a day...at the very least, it'll be 'refreshed' and all negative comments will 'disappear'.
Mary Newsome of the Observer should be ashamed of the practices that she's shown to repeatedly encourage -- stifling of important news articles and true, investigative journalism are lexicons she considers are beneath her and her staff. Thank god we at least have the Raleigh Observer that will at least report objectively on State politics...
And yes, count me in as another Democrat who will NOT be voting in these scumbags again!
Strike that -- Mary Newsome wasn't to whom I was referring to in my above post -- Ann Caulkins is the yellow-journalistic supreme commander on high to who I meant.
She should be tarred and feathered by the environmentalists for wasting innocent trees on the obviously slanted journalism that portends to be 'hard hitting'. Give me a break...
I too am tired of important new information being posted in the evening and magically disappearing before the next day. Our Founding Fathers understood the CRUCIAL role that "freedom of the press" serves in a free country. It is absolutely essential to report openly on government dealings, good and bad. I've been glad to see the CO rise to this solemn responsibility. Please don't fail us now by compromising.
Any guess as to how effective the "Internal Audit" dept. will be with the new, hand-picked replacement? Any guess as to what has really happened here behind closed doors? Any guess as to how effective the "hotline" will be if Harry gets to decide who gets the results from the calls and they are all funneled to him directly anyhow? Good gosh, can we flush County credibility any faster? Every day, we find new creative ways to shoot ourselves in the foot. Dang.
It's very difficult to work for someone who absolutely "preaches" INTEGRITY, & be afraid to sign my name, for fear of retribution. I find his integrity somewhat lacking. Appears to be all about C.Y.A.. Just sign me Lomax2
corruption
taxes
infrastructure decay
services decay
increases in crime
Charlotte has finally matured into a regular big city.
Move out while you have a chance and do not be left holding the bag of poo poo
Cronies of Harry Jones, like his DAUGHTER, are so involved at DSS problems. No wonder he has resisted all efforts to investigate them Thank goodness the FBI is doing that.
Several people should, I hope, be indicted for fraud and theft. Then others should be indicted for obstruction of justice.
This is sad and sickening. The queen city has taken a new low.
One point, one question. DSS is where the real problem exists. To fire the auditor and leave the problematic organization in place wreaks of hipocrisy. Multilple heads at DSS should roll sooner rather than later. Second, Observer please identify which high level politicians actually have relatives working at DSS and other city/county agencies. We as citizens should be told the truth about this, and not rely on/ disbelieve the innuendos from all these posters. (This is much more important example of public disclosure you should provide rather than spending time trying to provide us info on the Frances' divorce disagreement.)
Wow....in less than 5 hours this 'front page' news went to the back pages of the grand 'ole Charlotte Observer. Gee, I wonder why?
It COULDN'T have been due to all the negative comments on Harry Jones' lack of integrity and cover-up that's taken place...could it??
My original premise that this would be buried, 'updated' so all original posts would be erased or the story removed completely, has just now been verified.
Thank goodness I don't subscribe to this rag anymore -- I don't even allow on-line advertisers the luxury of advertising to me through the use of an ad-blocker. I truly hope the CO bites the dust and soon.
We need an honest representation of what's taking place in our great city and not some spin designed to keep the natives stupidly ignorant!
Harry has made Mecklenburg County the laughing stock of all those people who were fortunate enough to move away from this corrupt mess. You need some new County Commissioners!
Personnel will post the job that makes it look like a fair process. Then interviews will take place for those selected and contacted by the county managers office, and one will be selected. Very often, selections occur in management and the county choice has zero prior related experience. Like Joel Riddle in Personnel and formerly of Harry's office. And he's not alone. Our county government hires management they can control more so than who is qualified. And character is rarely hired thus the ongoing drama.
Harry and Anthony are laughing all the way to the bank and have been for a long time now ... they got each others backs ... more to come ... big fine homes and cars ... do we need to check out their college degrees too? ... actually we trust Davidson but where did Harry go? VCU?
I've never seen a county employee be taken care of like Jake Jacobson...given a cushy job elsewhere for big, big taxpayers dollars to do essentially nothing at UNCC. Who led the charge for this? Harry. Does Jake know too much? And, this business about Anthony Foxx's wife basically being given a job at DSS with no competition. And Harry's daughter. We appear to have this Gloria Pace King (Foxx was United Way Pres. in her heyday), Harry Jones, Mary Wilson "look the other way and hire my friends" type of operation. What's a few hundreds of thousands of county dollars among friends, right?
Cornita Spears will never be fired. She knows too much!
PRIVATE INDUSTRY - Fire the manager and all persons involved. Immediately rebuild confidence with the public and investors.
GOVERNMENT - Bonus the manager...continue to pay the people involved but reassign them....hire a consultant to do the actual work at exorbitant rates.
Absolutely Harry Jones must resign! If our elected officials want to maintain any sense of political prudence and 'do the right thing', they should hold a press conference indicating that government accountability is a top priority, followed by an announcement that Mr. Jones has been terminated and they are in the process of searching for a replacement!
The political rhetoric and in-breeding by hiring those who won't rock the boat and will support one's own political platform is ruining our city and our State. Time for a change come 2010 and 2012!
Harry Jones has done and continues to do an excellent job in his role. Managing any large entity is challenging and he should be lauded for his excellent management track record and his handling of the minor bumps in the road. What we should be focused on is that when these problems were discovered, the public was alerted and the issue has been handled in an accountable manner. Bravo, Mr. Jones. I wish you the best of luck as you carry out your very difficult job.
Time to stop the piling on. Dare I say that most of the people who have responded to this article have no idea what the actual problem was, under whom it occurred, and how it was handled internally?
Should anyone think Harry Jones is an excellent man to run Mecklenburg County, I suggest they step back and really look at the facts as we know them.
There is no doubt that the majority of Mecklenburg County Citizens think Harry Jones is the poster boy for the Peter Principle.
For those who are tired of Harry Jones and his arrogant and blatant corruption sign the petition:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/bocc/signatures/1
WE the citizens HAVE to stand up to Board of County Comissioners and let them know we are tired of their cronisism!
What liberal idiot wrote this? Jones is the essense of mediocrity at best on anything he ever did and was nothing but a pc hire. He is way in over his head and out of league and in on some embezzlement scheme directly or indirectly.
Anonymous said...
Harry Jones has done and continues to do an excellent job in his role. ... Time to stop the piling on. Dare I say that most of the people who have responded to this article have no idea what the actual problem was, under whom it occurred, and how it was handled internally?
November 23, 2009 2:38 PM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6926247.ece
Could it happen here?
It is interesting how former DSS Director Richard “Jake” Jacobsen, Jr. has avoided having his name raised in the DSS fallout. After heading DSS since Jan 2004; he assumed his role as Executive-in-Residence at UNCC in Jan 2008 with his salary paid by the County. Jacobsen became executive-in-residence amidst charges of inappropriate behavior and unchecked anger leveled by two DSS employees that resulted in lawsuits being filed - later dismissed by a Federal judge. Would he not be MUCH more accountable for these issues than the current Director who was hired in July 2008?
It seems that Cornita Spears is the scapegoat for a failure that was not hers alone. Prior to Director Mary Wilson's request, DSS had not undergone an audit since 1996. Certainly as the 2nd largest department in the County this is too long. Is this the fault of Ms. Spears or is the size of the staff or Internal Audit an indication of the importance the County puts on their function? Can 6 employees truly manage this function for a County budget in excess of $1 billion? What is the part of Strategic Organizational Improvement (SOI) which is a part of the County Manager’s office and oversees budgeting, management, planning & evaluation? FY 09 SOI had 15 FT employees and a budget of $1,575,455 while Internal Audit had 6 employees and a budget of $573,674.
Did the County not pay more than $100k to an outside audit agency that missed the same thing? Was there not a DSS fiscal employee that should have recognized that the audit reports did not reflect the $30k+ repayment? What about the General Managers with DSS oversight, do they bear any responsibility? Could Janice Allen Jackson’s resignation for personal reasons have actually been an avoidance of storms to come?
All of the "pronouncements" this week simply confirm (in a very convoluted manner) what DSS staff knew all along. NO MONEY WAS EVER MISSING. The whole thing has been a smoke screen, a sleight of hand, a diversionary tactic, created simply and solely to redirect questions about Ms. Wilson's activities elsewhere. Think back. Right at the time all this hit the fan, she was under very close scrutiny for her office makeover, the Christmas "training" held at her church, hiring of close friends from said church, etc. She magically comes up with this whole bogus scenario and spends the next nine months, with Harry's blessing, throwing good employees under the bus.You know what else went under the bus? County credibility. Employee morale. ANY effective leadership at DSS. The THOUSANDS of families helped by DSS every year through annual giving drives for school supplies, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas (sponsoring families for clothes, gifts, and dinners), senior citizens gift bag drives, food drives for Loaves and Fishes, Easter baskets, summer day camp. All of that is now GONE....sacrificed in the name of "let's help Ms. Wilson prove that the best defense is an offense". Well, it worked. Apparently. In the meantime, entire departments at DSS have been shredded. The best policy people in the agency have been either moved back to being de facto case managers, or shunted off to a corner where they are no longer able to train policy. The handful of policy trainers that remain are forced to train programs in which they've never worked, and have no knowledge. The official theory is that if you can teach, you can teach anything. Which of course is why we have English teachers teaching physics in high school, yes? Sounds great on paper, until the first person asks a question...then it breaks down pretty quickly. Policy training has been gutted...reduced from 6-8 weeks to 2.5 weeks. Here's the cherry on the cupcake. New trainees will have their work minimally checked by their supervisor for the first month or two on the floor. After that, their work will not be checked until they've been full time County employees for 9 months. For some who were hired as temps, this means their work won't be subject to regular review until they've been there a year. Other workers are subject to quarterly or monthly review of cases. But these new-hires who have received the least training, and are the most error prone are shielded from review. Those who are cynical might suggest that this is a great way to keep from exposing the flaws in the new "training" process for at least a year.One can only wonder. Intake this past year has been at an all time high, and staff are breaking under the strain. Those who care the most about their clients are the ones hurting the most. The incredible stress that comes from trying to serve clients well, not sacrifice quality, process cases on time, in the same 8 hrs a day with a 35-40% increase in clients in the last year is staggering. Something has to give. Quality? Timeliness? Quantity? You can have 2 of 3. Add to this the new mandate that workers performing at less than a certain standard for 3 months will be out the door...and computer systems that simply cannot keep up with the load and "freeze", and you have a recipe for disaster. But of course, all of this has been buried while we've been busy watching the "Mary and Harry" show. Well, maybe now we can get back to the real issues at hand. Who will be left to pick up the pieces when DSS implodes under the weight of ineffective, self-destructive leadership? Who is looking out for the clients?
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