VERNON, CT — Three now-former employees are off the payroll in Vernon as part of the fallout from a multi-tiered investigation involving false time records, clandestine trips on company time, derogatory references to other employees using municipal equipment and an IT security breach.
Disciplinary records of the three were obtained by Patch Tuesday via a Freedom of Information request. Disciplinary documents are considered public record, separate from the rest of a personnel file, according to state law.
On Sept. 20, Robert Sigan, then the director of information and communication technology, was the subject of a disciplinary Loudermill Hearing, at which time accusations became formal for:
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A separation agreement was signed on Sept. 29, documents show.
At an Aug. 8 Loudermill Hearing, documents show accusations against Whetzel included:
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A July 14, Whetzel was accused in a hearing of using fake circumstances for a bereavement leave, documents show.
On Aug. 30, Whetzel signed a separation agreement. He was a union official when employed.
Documents show that, on Sept. 11, then-help desk coordinator Mary Lou Harney was issued a single-day suspension for not working proper hours that was served on Sept. 20, according to municipal documents. Documents further show that, on Oct. 20, a termination memo was sent to her based on an Loudermill Hearing nine days earlier that determined:
Harney has since agreed to “resign,” records show.
The town issued a response Wednesday attributed to Town Administrator Michael Purcaro after handing over the documents the night before.
“The town of Vernon has high expectations of all employees for performance, professional conduct and customer service,” it said. “The town conducted a thorough investigation, the results of which were released pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request.”
Documents outline some of the accusations:
All accusations were referenced on official town documents.
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