Fraim slams revenue official's hiring of a PR specialist

NORFOLK

Commissioner of Revenue Sharon McDonald has hired a public relations specialist at taxpayer expense in an effort to burnish her office's reputation.

Charles Hartig, a longtime TV reporter who worked most of the last 11 years as a spokesman for the City Council, was hired as a Chief Deputy II on Sept. 1, according to Nancy Olivo, the city's director of human resources.

Mayor Paul Fraim strongly criticized the decision to hire Hartig, whom he describes as "a lifelong friend." He said McDonald, with a staff of just 38 employees, can't justify the need for a public relations specialist.

"I have great regard for Charlie," Fraim said. "But the commissioner does not need a deputy to serve as a communications adviser. It demonstrates additional disregard for the public purse. It's wrong."

City tax revenues will pay $40,570 of Hartig's salary of $57,508. State revenues will pay the rest, Olivo said.

McDonald is an elected official whose budget is paid for largely with city funds but is a state employee whose decisions are generally not subject to review by the city. Fraim said the state requires the city to fund employees for McDonald's office and the city can't control who she hires.

McDonald said she generally advertises openings, but when she learned Hartig was available, she interviewed only him. She said she began negotiating with him in May, shortly after she learned he would be laid off from his job at City Hall because of budget cuts.

Although Hartig has extensive experience in journalism and public relations, he does not appear to meet some of the qualifications to be a Chief Deputy II.

According to the job description provided by Olivo, a Chief Deputy II administers municipal tax and licensing programs, helps oversee revenue collection, and ensures compliance with city and state tax codes. A Chief Deputy also supervises personnel and provides information to the public.

Hartig replaces longtime employee Shelby Harrod, who was essentially McDonald's office manager.

In an e-mail response to questions, McDonald wrote that when Harrod retired, she decided to reorganize her office and the functions of some employees. She said she determined that if she could raise the profile of her office, it would help residents learn about services her staff provides, including a Department of Motor Vehicles outlet, that would generate revenue for the city.

"I decided that the most effective way to accomplish this is through an intense public relations effort," she wrote. "As you know, Charlie has over 40 years of media and public relations experience, and rightfully so, is recognized as one of the best, if not the best, in this market."

McDonald was the object of a months long audit by City Auditor John Sanderlin, who investigated her use of a city credit card to pay for expenses while lobbying the General Assembly the last three years.

Of the $80,000-plus she spent in five years on her credit card, she had no receipts for more than $25,000 in expenditures.

She was forced to repay the city $3,100 in expenses she acknowledged were "questionable."

Sanderlin released a report last week that indicated she violated no laws or city rules, but Fraim said she showed poor judgment, especially in taking an aide with her to Richmond whom, he said, served largely as her driver.

City Manager Regina V.K. Williams imposed a hiring freeze and a ban on travel on McDonald's office earlier this summer.

However, correspondence between Williams and McDonald, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, indicates Williams lifted the hiring freeze on Aug. 31. Williams authorized her to fill four positions partially funded by the state. One position funded entirely by the city, a license inspector, will be eliminated, Williams wrote.

Fraim said the council was told in closed session by City Attorney Bernard Pishko that Williams could not legally prohibit McDonald from filling positions that are partially funded by the state; thus, Williams had no choice but to lift the hiring freeze.

Williams told McDonald that a freeze on travel continues and will be subject to review by the City Council. McDonald's travel budget is entirely funded by the city.

McDonald protested the elimination of a license inspector, writing that it would cost the city $400,000 in revenue. She asked Williams to reconsider, and invited her to tour her office.

"I believe that such a visit would be a great morale-booster for my staff," she wrote.

McDonald told Williams that Hartig would help her office produce $1.4 million in new revenue. Asked on Wednesday how she arrived at that figure, McDonald said: "I have no doubt that, with the plan we have in place, he will easily help us generate $1.4 million."

Pilot writer Meghan Hoyer contributed to this report.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com