Photo by Matt.DunnThe Washington Post reports that over the past two weeks Mayor Vince Gray’s administration has handed out confidentiality agreements to nearly 100 staffers which prohibit them from revealing any potential cost-saving and revenue-raising measures they discuss during the One City Performance Review of city government this year.
The nondisclosure agreements have been disseminated by Suzanne Peck, a former chief technology officer for the city and Metro who is heading the review.
Some employees claim the agreements contradict Gray’s promise of transparent government and encroaches on whistleblower protections.
It looks like after news of the nondisclosure agreements broke, Brian K. Flowers, the mayor’s general counsel, prepared an addendum that would make clear that the agreements do not supersede employees’ rights to report “waste, fraud, abuse and criminal activity.”
Gray sidestepped explicitly commenting Friday, claiming that he had only recently learned of the agreements. He did say, “I think you know our policy on transparency.”
Lynn C. Ross, a professor at Georgetown University Public Policy Institute, said the action indicates trust issues in the administration need to be resolved.
