Investigation confirms misconduct by Councilmember Calvin

San Bernardino City Hall has released the results from a personnel investigation triggered by a complaint from an unnamed staff person that City Councilmember Kimberly Calvin violated city rules and created an “uncomfortable” work environment.

The council voted 5-0 in closed session last Wednesday to release the executive summary. Councilmembers Calvin and Reynoso were absent.

The complaint alleges that Calvin created a hostile work environment for the claimant and others, violated San Bernardino’s rules prohibiting councilmembers from circumventing the city manager and making direct requests of staff and improperly forwarding city emails to local activist, Treasure Ortiz, circumventing the Public Records Act process.

“The facts in this matter demonstrated that Ms. Calvin has repeatedly contacted City staff
directly for information and has made requests to provide documents or further research on a
specific subject. She has also given City staff direction regarding their specific work assignments
that went beyond a simple request for information.”

The report continues, “Interpretation of the municipal code provided by a witness is that any requests which require staff to prepare documents or spend time beyond a simple answer to a question are not appropriate and circumvent the chain of command. Witnesses indicated that several attempts were made to address chain of command issues with the City Council.”

Investigators felt that the evidence led them to believe that Calvin was acting on her own behalf rather than for the public.

“… Ms. Calvin’s interactions with City staff were not on behalf of the city council as a body; rather, she was at times acting unilaterally to make personal requests of her own.”

As far as the allegation of forwarding City e-mails to Ortiz, investigators were not able to confirm who had sent the documents.

It is unclear at this time what, if any repercussions, Calvin will have to face.