Resolution reached in Taviano Case

FORT WAYNE, IND. (WANE) - NewsChannel 15 is first to confirm that a resolution has been reached in the Tina Taviano case. That happened late Friday afternoon. Taviano was placed on paid administrative leave on Monday, October 12 from her position as City 911 Communications Director.

City officials announced late Friday afternoon that Taviano has been assigned to a short-term role in the City Controller’s Office effective immediately. The project-based work will last no longer than six months.  What that means for Taviano after that isn't clear.

Under the direction of City Controller Pat Roller, Taviano will assist in identifying, assessing and implementing process improvements to the MUNIS system. That’s the City’s recently installed comprehensive financial software system. The various modules of the system are currently in rollout.

A city spokesperson says she'll start on Monday, October 26.

Throughout the remainder of that tenure, Taviano will continue to be a full-time employee. She will be compensated through the Division of Finance and Administration at her current rate of pay, which is $260.63 a day when you divide her salary of $67,673 a year.

Taviano previously held the position of City 911 Director of Communications.

Since Monday, October 12, both Taviano and the City have been trying to reach a resolution as to what her future in that position would be, or if she would remain a city employee in another position, or if both sides would part ways.

Her city employment file, obtained by NewsChannel 15, states the following education and training background: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration earned in 1982; Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1983; and a Masters Degrees of Public Affairs Management in 1997.

Her work experience includes Scott’s Food Stores from 1977-1982, Allen County Sheriff’s Department from 1982-2007, and the ITT Technical Institute as Chair of the School of Criminal Justice during 2007.

This means she’ll be working on improvements with a new financial software system.. despite not having any financial work experience, other than that Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, which she earned back in 1982.

The city still isn’t releasing what caused this dramatic change for Taviano, and a previous review of her employment record showed no reprimands in her history.

Her employment record with the City is clean, and due to her Communications Director position being a senior level staff member, a formal write-up wasn't necessary to remove her. This all means the city has done a pretty good job of hiding from its citizens why they felt this change was necessary in the first place.

Friday evening, Taviano’s attorney, Mark GiaQuinta, released the following statement:

"Tina Taviano has been asked to assist the Fort Wayne City Controller on a Special Projects Assignment that will allow Ms. Taviano to put her organizational skills to work for the City in an area that requires systems analysis and implementation for the City Human Resources Department. Ms. Taviano will work on the 9th Floor of the City County Building under the direction of City Controller Pat Roller. Her new office will be located in the Controller’s area of the ninth floor of the City County Building.

Ms. Taviano is excited to begin her new assignment in an area that will utilize her vast organizational skills. “I appreciate the confidence shown in my ability to help improve this key area of City operations. I believe that the Henry Administration has shown great operational innovation and I am proud to continue assisting the Mayor and the Controller as they streamlining the human resource department.”

Ms. Taviano stated that any differences regarding the direction of the Communications Department were minor in nature and she wishes the members of that department the very best of luck as they continue to implement many of the operational changes she was pleased to have been a part in developing. “I have learned to look forward, not back. I enjoyed my tenure in the Communications Department but my new assignment will allow me to expand my experience into an area that has always held interest for me. I am very appreciative of the Mayor’s support and confidence and I intend to prove myself each and every day in this new and exciting opportunity.”

 

Previous wane.com story from October 15, 2009:

Tina Taviano continues to be a government employee, but isn't on the job as the city's 911 Director.

"She's merely deciding as well as the city is - what would be best for both parties in this case," said City of Fort Wayne Associate Attorney Michelle Heinzen.

Until a decision is reached by both parties, Taviano will continue to net $260.63 a day, which is a typical day's pay for her $67,673 a year position.

NewsChannel 15 has submitted formal requests to the City of Fort Wayne for information regarding what led to the decision to place Taviano on paid leave; including a request to look at her employment file.

The city’s response was limited, as was her employment file. It detailed her duties, compensation, title, educational, and work experience history. The file contained nothing out of the ordinary, and officials didn't have much to say when it comes to things like write-ups or reprimands.

"Under the access to public records, if any of that information existed, it would be releasable by the city and nothing has been released because nothing is there for Miss Taviano," said Heinzen.

Senior leadership positions within the city aren't like a typical hourly employee, meaning the city doesn't really need a reason to get rid of someone in that capacity.

"Those positions truly are serving at the will of the City of Fort Wayne and at the will of the Mayor. Therefore, they're subject to and are available to termination or resignation at a very short notice," Heinzen said.

Something as simple as "creative differences" could be a reason for asking a senior member to go on leave, while its explored if they'll continue on in a different capacity.

We still don't know if that's the case in this situation.

With no documentation, it means unless a lawsuit is filed, or Taviano breaks her silence, we may never officially know what led to Monday's events.