Public Works
….The city said some of the bike symbols are too close to the curb, in the door zone. That means, if someone rides through on a bike, a car door could easily open and hit that person…. nbc12.com
From Monument Avenue to City Hall: Why does Richmond continue to stifle artistic expression?
Kowtowing to angry Monument Avenue residents or a simple City Hall screw-up? Behind Art 180’s now-infamous permit revocation. styleweekly.com
[mayor Dwight C. Jones]‘s administration will propose to purchase and lease properties to move the fleet and other school and public works functions that now sprawl across 30 acres at the Parker Field Maintenance Facility….Richmond is in the final stage of evaluating a contract to outsource its fleet maintenance operation to a private vendor…. timesdispatch.com
But over the past two months, “We bought some equipment. We didn’t know why it was necessary to buy it at that time. And there was some work done that seemingly cost about as twice as much as it needs to cost,” said Byron Marshall, Chief Administrative Officer.
The complaint includes questionable invoices, which allegedly resulted in overpayments to vendors; changes to purchase orders after invoices were received and potential favoritism to certain vendors.
Marshall says, “at one point, the person who was ordering the work was signing off on that same work.”
via wtvr.
Richmond officials have asked prosecutors to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing in the Department of Public Works, including concerns that employees overpaid contractors and overused contract labor.
The employees were given the option to make full restitution, accept termination from their jobs and agree not to seek employment again with the city. In exchange, Marshall said officials would ask that they not face criminal charges.
“In the middle of the crisis, you guys have the luxury to sit around and come up with a new policy on tree removal?” she asked. “If I’m seemingly someone that’s in the loop, that knows … how to maneuver through City Hall bureaucracy, what is the average Richmonder doing right now?”
via Elected official finds city’s response to downed tree perplexing | Richmond Times-Dispatch.
To whom it may concern:
We find that there is more than enough evidence to support our claim of racial discrimination within the City of Richmond Water Department. These unfair conditions are unwarranted, unacceptable and absolutely intolerable. This unjust treatment within the workplace has been an Read the rest of this entry »
Their allegations include open use of racial epithets by white employees and supervisors, as well as favoritism toward whites in hiring and promotion.
via Richmond city workers complain of racism | Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Several workers with Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities are filing complaints with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. The workers claim they are being treated unfairly, working for little pay and endure hostile working conditions because they are black.
via DPU workers file equal opportunity employment commission complaint NAACJP – wtvr.
[March 2011 formal complaint filed by multiple DPU employees:]