Sentinel: Outside Investigator to Probe City Employees' Claims

Rockville will tap an independent investigator to look into former employees’ claims of discrimination and harassment by supervisors, The Sentinel reported Thursday.

Acting city manager Jennifer Kimball told The Sentinel that the city would review “policies and practices” impacting city employees.

“I will be conducting a review of those policies and practices, and am currently developing the scope of the work, including the selection of an outside party to conduct the review and an assessment of cost. Once that has been determined, I will update the Mayor and Council and proceed with the work,” Kimball told The Sentinel.

A city spokeswoman told The Sentinel that the city expects to name the independent investigator and know the cost of the investigation by next week.

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“We’ll review the whole process to find out what in the world is going on,” Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio, who said she supports an independent investigation, told The Sentinel.

It was the first time city officials have addressed the claims following a series of articles by The Sentinel describing what a former chief building inspector with the city called “a toxic environment.”

In one report, Eric Rose, a former city construction codes inspector, said he was repeatedly harassed by supervisors.

Rose also told The Sentinel that his medical history was discussed openly, in violation of the Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act.