ST. PAUL - Three Minnesota Department of Transportation officials have been reprimanded for failing to properly oversee Sonia Morphew Pitt of Red Wing, the agency's fired emergency manager.
Employment Relations Commissioner Pat Anderson wrote to Gov. Tim Pawlenty today that an outside independent investigator interviewed seven MnDOT officials who were directly or indirectly responsible for overseeing Pitt.
As a result of the investigation, MnDOT division director Rick Arnebeck was suspended for three days. Bob Winter, a division director, and Steve Lund, a maintenance and security director, received reprimands.
"Your lack of supervisory oversight attributed to the extremely damaging consequences that were inflicted upon the Department of Transportation and to a degree the image of all state employees which cannot be tolerated," Anderson wrote to Arnebeck.
MnDOT fired Pitt early last month after an agency investigation alleged she misused state resources. A subsequent review by the Minnesota legislative auditor claimed she cost the agency $26,000 in unauthorized expenses and work time that should have been recorded as personal leave.
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After Pitt was fired, Pawlenty requested further review of how Pitt was managed in her job as director of a homeland security office within MnDOT.
Last week, Pitt filed papers to appeal her termination and to get her job back, faulting the investigations for overlooking key evidence in her favor.
Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, also transportation commissioner, said the agency has made improvements following the Pitt case.
"As I said in MnDOT's response to the (legislative auditor's) investigation, we have instituted additional safeguards in our business procedures to help prevent this type of action from happening in the future," Molnau said.
For more information: www.doer.state.mn.us
