Landfill chief ousted in shake-up

The executive director of the Salt Lake County landfill was forced out of his job Friday after a report commissioned by Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon found widespread employee complaints about discrimination, harassment and nepotism.

Romney Stewart was placed on administrative leave Friday and told to consider retirement or face termination, sources told the Deseret Morning News. The move was part of a major shake-up of landfill management. In total, four top managers at the facility were demoted or forced out of their jobs.

"There were some serious morale problems, and we felt at this point this is the only way to effectively change the morale out at the landfill," Corroon said.

Stewart, who has worked for the county for 28 years, could not be reached for comment Friday.

A nearly five-month investigation by a private firm found that 79 percent of 49 landfill employees interviewed do not trust Stewart.

The landfill is "mired in a state of low morale where a lack of trust, poor communication and uncertainty are chronic conditions," according to the. report. Investigators found a pattern of inappropriate behavior by management that has created an "environment of fear, mistrust, cynicism and disrespect," including:

• Employees said managers openly discuss religion with employees and religion is considered in the hiring process.

• One employee with a learning disability said he was screamed at, poked and called "stupid" by management because he could not read or write.

• Another employee said he suffered unnecessary damage to his eye because management would not allow him to be taken to a hospital by ambulance after an on-site fire because it would be too expensive. The employee said the manager told other employees to drive him to a local hospital in a county vehicle. That hospital did not have a burn unit and the man had to be taken by ambulance to another hospital.

Employees also said management used nepotism and favoritism in hiring decisions, selection of vendors and communications. Investigators said employees believe the treatment seems to be based on "management preferences for friends and family and for people of similar race, religion and interests."

According to the report, employees said management instructed staff to reduce rates for friends and family of management. Management also played favorites with certain employees who were not properly disciplined after breaking rules such as "pilfering valuable trash," employees told investigators.