CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox sent out a memo to all DOH workers earlier this month reminding them of rules and regulations when it comes to political activity, an agency official told state lawmakers this week.
The memo is part of a number of changes within the agency following an 29-count indictment a year ago involving the former head of the state Division of Highways Equipment Division Bob Andrew. State Transportation Deputy Secretary Harry Bergstrom detailed the changes to lawmakers during an interim committee meeting in Charleston Tuesday.
MORE Read memo to DOH workers here
Andrew, 77, of Bridgeport, took his own life in September 2015 just hours after being named in the indictment that charged him, among other things, with racketeering, bid rigging and allegedly tampering with witnesses and documents. He allegedly ordered state workers to conduct political work on state time and ordered the illegal sell of surplus vehicles and equipment. Andrew served as director of the equipment division for 16 years.
Following the indictment, the DOT sent a team to Buckhannon to investigate the operation, Bergstrom said. The changes during the past year have included a new director with both an engineering and maintenance background, an oversight change in the agency’s office along with reminding workers and potential bidders of the provisions of the state Ethics Act and rules for the state Division of Personnel.
The agency has also asked for and received guidance from the Federal Highway Administration concerning proper procedures to acquire and dispose of government surplus property. A new policy will soon be implemented, Bergstrom said.
“We have drastically curtailed the purchase of (federal surplus) property,” Bergstrom told lawmakers. “To my knowledge will have not sold any and will not until this policy is in place.”
Another major change in operations, according to Bergstrom, is any state employee-vendor interaction has to first be approved by Transportation Secretary Mattox.
“They must submit that request in writing. It must have an agenda with the items they wish to discuss and who from the vendor company will be attending that meeting,” Bergstrom said.
Two former DOH workers, Edward Tuttle and Barry Thompson, pleaded guilty to a number of federal charges in connection with the probe.