Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Hr topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Councilors question ONS workplace culture, deputy director model and staff mentorship
Summary
Councilors asked Office of Neighborhood Services leaders about turnover, mentoring and the office’s deputy-director structure; ONS said deputy directors were added to support liaisons, the office provides professional development in work hours, and HR/people’s cabinet processes addressed past complaints.
Boston — Councilors used a May 27 budget hearing to press the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services about staffing, turnover and workplace culture after recent terminations and staff departures prompted questions about supervision and mentoring.
Councilor Flynn asked whether two recently fired employees had received appropriate mentorship and whether ONS uses nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in separations. Director Lindsay Santana said ONS prioritizes professional development, has implemented a deputy-director model to provide additional supervision and "invest[s] in trainings or bringing in experts" during work hours. On NDAs, Santana said she was not aware of NDAs in the office and deferred specific legal questions to the city’s legal department.
"One of the reasons for the deputy model is that we're, like, making sure that they feel supported, they feel seen, that they feel connected to the larger vision," Santana said, explaining the deputy director roles support liaisons and community-engagement specialists.
Councilors also asked whether ONS provides training on professionalism, public speaking and conflict resolution; Santana said the office conducts mandatory trainings and follows people’s cabinet and HR protocols when personnel issues arise. Chief Brianna Mellor said some former liaisons moved to other departments and that turnover is not unique to ONS.
Why it matters: Councilors said workplace culture affects staff retention and the quality of neighborhood services such as emergency response and constituent casework.
No disciplinary or personnel decisions were taken at the hearing; ONS said it would follow HR protocols and could provide additional detail to council offices through established channels.
