Commissioner cleared of misconduct stemming from complaint

Stillwater County Commissioner Maureen Davey was investigated -- and cleared -- of misconduct allegations stemming from a complaint filed by a department head.
The investigation was conducted by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office late last year at the request of the Stillwater County Attorney’s Office following a formal complaint filed by Stillwater County Library Director Della Haverland.
Carbon County Attorney Alex Nixon told the News this week that the investigation was not of a criminal nature, but rather an investigation into some sort of alleged impropriety in public office.
It is common practice for an outside agency to conduct such investigations in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Haverland’s complaint outlines alleged difficulties in getting the library’s back parking lot plowed by county road crews and Davey allegedly telling Haverland she was not allowed to contact the road department for plowing purposes and instructing her to hire someone for the job through a bid process that would come out of the library’s budget.
Haverland also alleged that Davey used “threatening and intimidating tactics to try and make me concede on this issue,” according to the complaint. Haverland does not specify what those alleged tactics were, other than stating that the day prior to filing her complaint, Davey “started raising her voice in an intimidating manner” during a conversation requested by Davey, according to the complaint.
While Davey was cleared of misconduct, the investigation did reveal what Nixon and Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde both called problems with how the issue of snow removal at the library had been handled.
Nixon wrote that it was “concerning that the commission is tasking the county librarian with contracting for snow removal services” and said making such a request of a county employee “without the aid of the commission or county attorney, to secure adequate contractual indemnification is equally unreasonable.”
Secondly, Nixon wrote that a review of the county facilities manager job description shows it is the employee’s duty to handle snow removal, according to Nixon’s letter. He also noted that Rohde was consulted in the matter and determined the facilities supervisor was responsible.
“For a multitude of reasons (including potential liability concerns), removal of snow and the maintenance of a safe public facility are in the county’s best interest,” wrote Nixon.
Nixon told the News that Davey did not speak with investigators.
“She wouldn’t give a comment,” said Nixon. “She told the deputy she was not willing to participate in the investigation.”
Davey told the News this week “I refused to participate because I did not believe the personnel policy handbook had been followed. If the personnel policy had been followed, I believe the issue would have been resolved. I stated that in a letter to HR Director Joe Morse.”
She also noted that the plowing issue has been resolved.
The Stillwater County Library Board sent a letter to the commissioners dated Jan. 25, 2016, expressing support for Haverland and requesting a new liaison from the commission be appointed to prevent further “unnecessary strife” to the library. Davey is the current liaison.