Georgia romance produces shakeup (PERSONNEL)

The sex drive is complicating transportation policymaking in Atlanta GA. Georgia's State Transportation Board Chairman Mike Evans has resigned and Gena Abraham, CEO of the state DOT and of the State Toll Authority has been reprimanded for a love affair.

Abraham, 39 is a divorcee with a son, and Evans, 47 is a divorcee with two daughters.

Evans fessed up to the affair after another board member had called for discussion of the relationship. In a resignation statement he said: "Over the last month or so we have grown to care for each other more than on a professional level, she became my friend. As our friendship developed, we realized that there was the possibility of something more than friendship...

 

"DOT Policy does not permit relationships other than professional or friendship within the direct chain of command," he acknowledged.

The state transport board didn't buy Evans "possibility of something more" line!

They debated Abraham's future for three hours before issuing her a reprimand. They said she should have notified the board when her relationship with the Chairman began, which they said was many weeks ago. Three members of the board wanted to fire Abraham but eight voted for the reprimand.

Governor Sonny Purdue got involved in Abraham's defense, making the observation that relationships between people "come on gradually, not like turning on a switch." Maybe in sweet Georgia...

Zero tolerance boss

Part of Abraham's problem is that in her six months on the job she has struck a harsh zero-tolerance stance toward infractions of departmental rules and regulations, lecturing employees in strict tones as this memo of March 31:

"In earlier memos to staff, I have discussed the importance of establishing and maintaining the highest possible standard of professional behavior and ethics in our workplace. I have stressed how serious I am about this...

"Unfortunately, I continue to be alerted to employees’ actions that are in violation of Department policy and in some cases, crimes against state and federal law. This is unacceptable. Every GDOT employee is expected to work under the sole influence of good professional principles and standards of conduct. That means human rationalization, weakness of character and integrity, professional ego and personal faults and issues cannot dictate the choices that you make as an employee...

"I've made no secret of the fact that we have terminated several employees for unethical/unlawful behavior. An employee's number of years of service and/or impending retirement will not influence my decision on any adverse action that must be taken against an employee who has violated policy or the law."

Sexual harassment charge

Meanwhile hardly had the transport board's vice-chairman Garland Pinolster taken over from Abraham's lover Evans than he stepped down. It surfaced that Pinolster was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint from within the department.

Cambridge Systematics expands in Florida

Cambridge Systematics is expanding in Florida, hiring two former Florida DOT officers - policy specialist Matthew Click previously director of government affairs for Florida Turnpike Enterprise and Robert Downie an environmental law specialist. Click will work out of Orlando and Downie out of Tallahassee.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-04-22