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Officials' relationship is a potential problem

For a person in an important position of public trust, Dunedin Interim City Manager Maureen Freaney hasn't been very upfront with either the public or some city officials.

Freaney was assistant city manager for years, and months ago put herself in the running to become the next city manager, but it wasn't until this week that the public and some city officials learned she shares a home with a city division director.

The St. Petersburg Times reported Thursday that Freaney and city recreation director Peg Cummings have lived together 10 years in a home they jointly own.

Freaney has been a city employee for 22 years, rising through the ranks to assistant city manager in 1998. She was named interim manager when veteran City Manager John Lawrence retired a few days ago, and she has been widely viewed as an applicant to succeed Lawrence since he announced his retirement plans last year.

Cummings has worked for the city for 26 years. A couple of years ago she was promoted from a program coordinator to director of the recreation division. Cummings' direct supervisor is Harry Gross, director of leisure services, but Gross reports to the city manager. And the city manager is the person charged in the city charter with directing city departments and employees.

Former manager Lawrence apparently was aware of the relationship between Freaney and Cummings, but said it didn't concern him because "it's inconceivable to me that (Freaney) would somehow favor (Cummings) in a business sense." Mayor John Doglione and City Commissioner Julie Scales said they had confidence in the professionalism of both women.

However, those who don't know Freaney and Cummings personally have no such assurance, and their failure to disclose the relationship kept it from public scrutiny. It is especially troubling that without the Times story, Freaney could have been appointed city manager without the relationship being disclosed.

What Freaney and Cummings are doing violates no city policy, according to the city attorney. The existing city policy discourages the hiring of "family members," but the definition of "family" in the policy does not apply to Freaney and Cummings.

While it did not violate a city policy, the relationship could lead to all kinds of conflicts. For that reason, fraternization between employees and their subordinates is generally frowned upon in both government and private businesses. That Dunedin officials let it continue for years is troubling. It also potentially mars the good records of two talented, longtime employees. People now may legitimately wonder whether Freaney has good judgment, which is all-important in a city manager. And people also may wonder whether Cummings earned her promotion to a division head or received favored treatment.

Dunedin needs to update its personnel policies. Governments and private businesses alike are finding it necessary to stretch their rules to cover the kinds of living arrangements and relationships that now occur in our society.

While this situation alone should not necessarily disqualify Freaney from consideration as the next city manager, it does complicate the process for everyone. And if Freaney won the post, city commissioners would be forced to create some way to prevent future conflicts in Freaney's management of the leisure services department. It would be best for all concerned for Freaney and Cummings to handle this problem themselves so the public can be assured no conflicts could occur.

[Last modified January 27, 2006, 01:21:16]