Marion County Courthouse (Salem Reporter file)
Marion County plans to hire an independent auditor to investigate the county’s culture following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination by a public works employee.
County spokeswoman Jolene Kelley said Wednesday the county will conduct a “cultural audit.” Details are scant, but Kelley said they hoped it would help with handling such issues in the future.
“It’s a broad look across the county to see if there’s anything we don’t know about so we can make sure we respond appropriately,” Kelley said.
The audit is at least partly spurred by public works employee Jamie Namitz, who last week spoke against harassment and discrimination within the county’s ranks during a Board of Commissioners meeting.
In a three-minute statement Namitz said that when she interviewed for a promotion, a superior told her she would not be respected and that her greatest asset was her “sexuality.”
Namitz, her sister and representatives from the Marion County Employees Association say the manager, Don Newell, remained employed and had not been punished. They also allege multiple people witnessed the comments in person.
“The recent events at public works did play a part” in calling for a cultural audit, Kelley said. “County leadership takes those incidents very seriously.”
Kelley could not specify the scope of the audit — the county has 15 departments and roughly 1,650 employees — nor when it would take place.
The audit was first proposed last Thursday during a department head meeting, according to Kelley, the day after Namitz’s statements.
Trish Straw, president of the MCEA, and Namitz’s sister, Mersadee Lulay, returned to the Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday morning to implore the council to help end harassment and discrimination.
Lulay noted in her comments that it is election season and urged commissioners to listen to constituents.
“We need to see some action. It’s time,” she said.
Marion County has not conducted a cultural audit in the past. Typically, the county runs a management audit that goes through departments to see where it can be more efficient.
The county has yet to say what auditor it plans to contract with. Kelley added Marion County hopes to be swift in the response.
“I think it’s something we’ll have to do quickly and find out more information,” she said.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-357-3207, [email protected] or @TroyWB.
