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The memo, dated May 27 and signed by deputy city manager Richard Hewitt, indicates city staff failed to provide crucial information about the incident to the Ministry of the Environment or city management in a timely fashion.
“This investigation has now determined that incorrect information was provided by an operational employee who initially dealt with the spill,” the memo notes. “It is now my conclusion that the employee who was responsible for reporting the incident to the Ministry of the Environment’s Spills Action Centre did not do his job and, in fact, did not make the call.
“Furthermore, I am dismayed to inform you that management was provided with erroneous information by the employee regarding the specifics of when the Ministry was initially notified of the spill.”
According to the memo, the first documented notification to the province was sent, in writing, on May 16, 2007 and not August 2006, as previously reported.
“A decision has been made that disciplinary action is warranted and the employee has been suspended without pay pending the completion of the ongoing investigation,” the memo continues. “Due to labour relations and collective agreement considerations I am limited in my ability to discuss this personnel matter more fully, but additional disciplinary measures, up to and including termination, may be taken.”
The memo goes on to say that the investigation into the matter has been taken over by the city’s management office.
For more on this story, please see the Tuesday, June 3 edition of The Star