CLEVELAND, Ohio – A top official in Cleveland’s Public Utilities Department violated several city policies by hiring her son to work in a position she indirectly oversees, a city investigation has found.
Debra Mitchell, the department’s assistant director, told a manager who directly reports to her to hire her son as an assistant administrator in fleet planning and operations, according to findings by the city’s Division of Internal Audit.
“Based on the support documentation provided and interviews conducted, it has been determined that the assistant director used her position and influence to secure the hiring of an immediate family member as defined in the nepotism policy,” the investigation report states.
The report recommended that Mitchell be disciplined and that her son be reassigned to a position outside her supervision.
City Hall did not respond to a request for an interview with Mitchell. Mayor Frank Jackson’s spokeswoman Latoya Hunter said the Human Resources Department is still reviewing the report and “will come to a conclusion soon.”
The investigation was triggered by a complaint sent to City Hall in August alleging that Mitchell said she would not approve…
