GEORGETOWN – The head-scratching move to share a part-time human resources officer who works with the city of Providence, RI, is over – at least for now.
Paul Winspeare, the Rhode Island human resources officer, was working for the town of Georgetown about 10 hours a week at $75 an hour since last December.
In what was described by Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco as sort of “a flex job,” Winspeare, who rarely showed up at Georgetown Town Hall, 100 miles away, worked on tasks assigned by Pacheco.
One was reviewing the town’s personnel manual.
“Paul has completed his review of the personnel manual and has made recommendations to the Selectboard,” Pacheco wrote to The Town Common. “He does not have any additional tasks at this time so he would no longer be employed with us on a regular basis.“
Pacheco praised Winspeare’s work and said he thinks he would do additional follow up work, if requested, by the Selectboard.”
The part-time job in Georgetown, while not legally in conflict with his work in Providence if it is not during regular business hours, prompted a review in that city, which is now completed.
Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, told a local television station that the review had been concluded, but he could disclose no details because it is a personnel matter.
Winspeare, whose Providence salary is about $130,000, may have kept his job, but his title changed. He now serves as the city’s Chief People Officer, Estrella told the station.
Left unresolved is an investigation he conducted of the Georgetown Conservation Officer Michele Grenier.
Winespeare’s investigation of Grenier involved a complaint by a resident that she violated the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and the code of ethics.
Winspeare met with Grenier to conduct an investigation of her. His report on his investigation regarding Grenier proposed that she and all members of the ConComm be required to submit to training about Open Law Meetings.
It is unclear who asked for the Grenier investigation. Pacheco pointed the finger at then SelectBoard Chair Amy Smith, but Smith sent an email last week asking The Town Common to retract that claim.
In a separate email, Pacheco wrote, “He (Winspeare) was asked by then Chair Amy Smith to look into complaints received. I assume the investigation is complete. No action has been taken that I am aware of.”
Michele wrote this week that she asked Winspeare who had told him to investigate the complaints against the commission. She said he responded that Pacheco had ordered the probe.
