File photoMeridian City Hall

After discussing issues with the Chief Administrative Officer Richie McAlister for months, the Meridian City Council voted on Tuesday to launch an investigation into whether or not city employees have a hostile work environment under McAlister. 

Weston Lindemann, the council representative for Ward 5, has publicly criticized Mayor Percy Bland’s administration and spearheaded efforts to cut McAlister’s pay to $0 and proposed the investigation. 

When asked what would happen if the council discovered a hostile work environment, Lindemann said, “Then I hope the mayor would take the appropriate action since he has indicated he is responsible for the CAO.”

Bland has stood behind McAlister and vetoed the council action to cut McAlister’s pay to $0. 

“Let’s move the city forward,” Bland said. “It’s targeted, Mr. Lindemann… if you don’t have (named employees with complaints) let’s move the city forward and get past this foolishness.”

Council members Tyrone Johnson, of Ward 2, and Kim Houston, of Ward 4, said at the last council meeting that they wanted to address employee concerns about their work environment.

“We do have people who have said things about their work environment… we should make a platform where we can make that part of the record,” Houston said. 

Bland and George Thomas, of Ward 1, both said employees could air concerns about their work environments to the civil service commission, human resources, the equal opportunity office, the CAO or the mayor.

However, Houston said some employees felt those places had been compromised.

“No one may show up, but if one shows up then I think we owe it to them,” Houston said. “We should not have to bring this up ever again… at some point, people need to be bold enough to face their giants.”

Thomas pushed back.

“If they’re not mature enough to speak to their supervisors or civil service or HR,” Thomas said. “If they’re not mature enough to do that, maybe they’re not mature enough to do their job?”

Thomas and Fannie Johnson, of Ward 4, voted against the investigation while Tyrone Johnson, Houston and Lindemann voted in favor. 

Employees will have until Friday, May 24 to file complaints with Council Clerk Jo Ann Clark, on the third floor of City Hall before the council convenes at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at  to hear their concerns. 

During council comments, Lindemann hinted at more to come. He said that local prosecutors had declined to prosecute a misdemeanor he’d filed against McAlister, saying, “We have people in Meridian above the law.”

Lindemann also said that he would explore charges of a city employee impersonating a law enforcement officer and the destruction of public records, with the latter being a felony charge. 

“I hope we have a little more luck getting the (District Attorney) to prosecute when the inevitable crimes are exposed,” Lindemann said. “There’s a couple things coming of the felony type that I hope will get more attention (than the misdemeanor against McAlister) considering it is an election year.”