ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Premier Dwight Ball says he did not direct anyone to hire Carla Foote, daughter of Lt.-Gov. Judy Foote, at The Rooms.
A scathing report released Monday by the Office of the Citizens' Representative outlined how cabinet minister Christopher Mitchelmore “grossly mismanaged” the hiring of Foote.
The report outlines how the position of director of marketing and development was filled on a nine-month contract by former CEO Dean Brinton, only to have the hiring overturned by Mitchelmore.
The role was elevated with an executive job title as part of restructuring The Rooms management, and the pay scale bumped from a maximum of $90,000 to $132,000 to match Foote’s previous salary within the executive council of the government.
But Ball says the matter is only an issue because of Foote’s last name.
“We would not be having this discussion today, let's face it, even in that report itself it talked about Carla Foote and her relationship with the LG and the fact she had worked with me. We’re not talking about the other position, we’re not talking about the other improvements that we’re seeing at The Rooms that we’re seeing right now,” said Ball.
“I didn’t direct anyone to hire Carla Foote, but she’s qualified for that job. She’s there on a contract basis and she’s there to do a job.”
The report completed by Citizens' Representative Bradley Moss states no evidence was presented during his investigation suggesting there was any comparison of qualifications for the job.
Further, the other position referenced by Ball is the position of executive director of museums and galleries, held by Anne Chafe. The salary for Chafe’s position was increased because Foote would have been paid more than Chafe in her new position, a matter brought up by chair of The Rooms board of directors Margaret Allan. Chafe has worked at The Rooms since 2007.
The report notes the board of directors believed Ball had offered the position to Foote.
"...somebody I don’t even know made a suggestion that this was a direction coming from the premier. It didn’t happen." — Premier Dwight Ball
Ball says that is just hearsay.
“This is where I take exception for how you’re taking this. I really do. I’m disappointed, to be honest. What you’re seeing there is a discussion — I’ve never met with the board, never met with the CEO, so therefore what happened here is somewhere between coming into that board, somebody I don’t even know made a suggestion that this was a direction coming from the premier. It didn’t happen,” Ball said.
In light of the controversy, Ball has called for an independent review of movement of executive staff within government. No details on the terms of reference or who would lead such a review have yet been announced.
Ball was asked directly to state what Mitchelmore did wrong to lead him to agree to an apology.
Ball says there’s an issue with Foote’s contract having no specified end date and about the use of the word “lateral” to describe the move. He didn’t mention patronage.
“I think there’s a couple of things there. Basically, with the contract itself where the end date was there, there’s an acknowledgment there that could have been done better, room for improvement. Secondly, is using some of the language of this being lateral,” Ball said.
“I probably used that word lateral myself. We were given this on the advice within the people that provide that advice to us. I acknowledge that. If I had said that, which I did say, I apologize for that, too. That was based on the information that was given to me.”
Mitchelmore and Ball had described the move as a “lateral transfer.” In his report, Chaulk says it was not a lateral move, but instead a contract hire.
Bernard Davis, who swapped portfolios with Mitchelmore in a cabinet shuffle in August, says he will not restart the hiring process for the position of executive director of marketing and development at The Rooms, which Foote currently holds.
“It’s a contract position that we have here at The Rooms that was involved from an executive transfer from within government that was handling all the communications within the government,” Davis said.
“She’s insurmountable capable for doing the job that she’s doing.”
The House of Assembly is currently mired in debate over the report. Commissioner for Legislative Standards Bruce Chaulk has recommended a reprimand for Mitchelmore. The Liberals have put forward a motion to have Mitchelmore stand in his place in the House and apologize, which Mitchelmore has agreed to do.
Sources have indicated that a number of amendments will be presented in the coming days by the opposition to stiffen the penalty to Mitchelmore.
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
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