Whistle blower policy bolstered in Langley


February 8, 2013 · Updated 3:56 PM 

RECORD STAFF

The council wasn’t whistling Dixie in adopting a new Whistle Blower policy at Monday’s meeting in Langley.

Council members made short thrift of the subject, aimed at quickly toughening the city’s policy to protect employees who report suspicious activity by superiors. All five council members voted yes.

In the most recent Whistle blower incident, Jeff Arango, city planner, accused former Mayor Larry Kwarsick of tampering with a city document when Kwarsick was city planner. The complaint ultimately forced Kwarsick to resign, but in the meantime Arango’s job may have been in jeopardy.

“This seeks very much to encourage people to bring forward conduct in the government that seems improper,” said Hal Seligson, mayor pro-tem.

“It’s basically making sure city rules … are as good as, as specific as, the state rules are,” added Councilman Jim Sundberg. Future complaints about a mayor will go to the mayor pro-tem, not the mayor.

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