Ousted Procurement Specialist Asseverates Slew of Allegations Against Gainesville City Management

On August 20, Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry sent an email to Mayor Harvey Ward, City Commissioners, and City staff to give an update on the Department of Financial Services Procurement Division’s placement on management watch.

Below the email, attached are several emails to & from recently resigned Acting Contracts Manager and Procurement Specialist III of the Gainesville Department of Financial Services, Kaela Densford.  

Densford makes a slew of allegations against Gainesville City Management, including wage discrepancies, fair wage concerns, unethical solicitation practices, legal concerns regarding contracts, federal non-compliance, and organizational corruption.

The afternoon of May 7 Densford emailed Gainesville Compensation Assistant John Skaja regarding a discrepancy in her pay. 

Densford reported, “Normally, I receive $2,499.62, as of April 18, 2024. However, on May 2, 2024, I only received $2,280.06. My regular pay rate is $36.6935 per hour, but on the May 2nd check, it appears to be $32.6279 per hour. This results in a discrepancy of $4.0656 per hour.”

Skaja responded later the same afternoon, stating, “On April 17th, Human Resources (HR) notified us that they had entered a reduction to your pay rate effective [January 8, 2024].  They adjusted your annual rate down to $67,866.00, plus a 10% Special Assignment, which matches what you’re seeing on your paycheck…. City Manager [Cynthia Curry] waived the overpayment policy…. in this case, so Payroll did not recover any overpayments from you.  HR should have notified both you and your supervisor about the reasons for the change.  They did not share those reasons with us, so my only suggestion would be to contact Chianti Powe (in HR) for more details."

“I believe this warrants a discussion,” wrote Densford to Powe. 

A few hours later, Powe responded that Densford’s department would speak with her regarding her questions and that she could talk to her directly if wanted. 

The following morning, Densford got back to Powe and added Finance Director Dennis Nguyen to the conversation by sending him a copy of the email. 

Densford said that matters regarding her pay discrepancy need to be handled in writing, stating she requires “a document for signature that clearly outlines [her] agreement or disagreement with the terms presented.”

Densford acknowledged that city management was “within legal boundaries.” However, she said she was being underpaid for her role and that the city management crossed ethical boundaries by changing her pay without her prior knowledge or consent. 

Shortly after, Powe responded that she and Densford could meet in person the same day or the following. 

Five days later, Densford responded, reiterating that a proposed solution to the pay discrepancy needed to be documented in writing. "This document should include a systematic breakdown of the events that led to the pay discrepancy initially, as well as an explanation of why there was no prior discussion regarding the pay decrease," wrote Densford.

On August 19, Densford submitted her resignation. 

The email was sent to Human Resources Director Laura Graetz, Acting Procurement Division Manager Todd Tuzzolino, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, Commissioner at-Large Seat A Reina Saco, Commissioner at-Large Seat B Cynthia Chestnut, District 1 Commissioner Desmond Duncan-Walker, District 2 Commissioner Ed Book, District 3 Commissioner Casey Willits, District 4 Commissioner Bryan Eastman, City Attorney Daniel Nee, Executive Assistant Kristen Bryant, Executive Assistant Rebecca Turner, The Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Finance Director Dennis Nguyen. 

The subject of the email was titled “Resignation in lieu of termination, effective immediately.”

Densford said her decision followed a heavy amount of thought into “several critical issues” that “compromise the ethical standards and legal compliance of the organization.” 

Densford outlined the six main issues as:

(1) Wage Discrepancies: Densford said her pay was changed “without prior notice or consultation from management or Human Resources, which raises concerns about procedural compliance.”

Densford regarded “disparities” in compensation for her role compared to similar roles within the city. She said this “may constitute violations of equitable pay practices.”

(2) Fair Wage Concerns: Densford said her salary at the time of her resignation may violate fair compensation principles. 

“My current salary does not align with industry standards,” wrote Densford. She wrote that her salary didn’t reflect the work that was undertaken by her in the position that she held.  

(3) Unethical Solicitation Practices: Densford wrote that the practices of their procurement procedures compromise their integrity, going on to call out the Office of Equity and Inclusion, alleging they are not being equitable and inclusive. 

Densford wrote, “The small business initiative endorsed by the Office of Equity and Inclusion has been systematically disregarded, contrary to the recommendations of the City Commission.” She wrote this diminishes the program's intended impact. 

(4) Legal Concerns Regarding Contracts: Densford wrote, “Several contracts issued under my purview may contravene legal requirements, raising serious concerns about their validity and compliance with state and federal laws.”

(5) Federal Non-Compliance: Densford reported that “some solicitations and contracts appear to have failed to meet federal regulatory standards, exposing the organization to significant legal risks and potential sanctions.”

(6) Organizational Corruption: Densford claims to have identified organizational corruption within the City of Gainesville, beginning at the City Manager’s office, stating the corruption affects “various levels of administration.”

Densford gave examples of legal violations, unethical practices, and failures to address critical issues.

Reportedly, on August 6, during a procurement staff meeting led by City Manager Special Advisor Cintya Ramos and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Pearson, staff were informed of Victoria James’ termination as Gainesville Purchasing and Contracts Manager. 

Densford was on vacation at the time and was reportedly informed that she would “not be returning.” 

Densford reported that several of her colleagues sent her screenshots, which indicated that she was no longer employed by the city. She said some of her colleagues sent her messages that “[expressed] regret” because they couldn’t say goodbye to her.  

Densford reported that someone informed her Pearson and Ramos intended to fire her on the same day as James. However, her termination was postponed because she was on an approved vacation.

Densford reported that on July 31, while handling familial appointments, she was unsolicitedly called by Nguyen. She reported that Nguyen expressed concerns about conversations during a recent finance meeting.  

Nguyen reportedly “inquired about [Densford’s] intentions” regarding her removing personal items from her office. 

“This call was an inappropriate invasion of my privacy and a violation of professional boundaries,” wrote Densford. 

Densford wrote that on August 2, shortly after she submitted a request for two weeks of vacation, she was called into an unscheduled meeting by Ramos with James. 

Densford wrote that Ramos “demanded a direct response” regarding her intentions to leave. Densford said Ramos’ behavior “constitutes workplace bullying and harassment” and that she “insinuated” that her removing personal items from her office may be “perceived” as an indication she wants to leave her position. Densford wrote that Ramos' behavior contributed to an “already hostile work environment.” 

Densford said that James instructed her on behalf of Ramos to “refrain from documenting issues related to potentially illegal contracts and unethical procurement practices.”

Densford explained why the aforementioned contracts were issued under her purview despite her concerns. She was reportedly “directed to expedite contracts without addressing these serious concerns.” 

Densford cited the City of Gainesville Procurement Function Analysis, completed by Management Partners in September 2021 as a source of evidence for the allegations.

Densford wrote that her instructions conflicted with her ethical obligations, leading to her resignation.

Densford informed the city government that she still had personal equipment on-site at the time of her resignation and requested arrangements be made for retrieval. 

At the end of Densford’s message, she remained hopeful that the issues she outlined would be “thoroughly investigated and addressed to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.”

GnvInfo contacted Densford for comments on the alleged misconduct. She said she has no comment right now.

GnvInfo attempted to contact the City Manager’s office for a statement in response and/or an interview with Curry regarding the allegations. 

City of Gainesville Public Information Officer Rosanna Passaniti said Curry “politely” declined GnvInfo’s request for an interview. She wrote, “The City of Gainesville is committed to ensuring that public funds are managed efficiently and responsibly in the delivery of essential services and programs for Gainesville neighbors.”