Mayor in no hurry to replace Regan
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Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl yesterday declined to put a time limit on an investigation of city Operations Director Dennis J. Regan, and said Mr. Regan had not yet been interviewed two weeks into the probe.
Dennis J. Regan There were indications, though, that Mr. Regan will not regain his former status. His office effects have been boxed and moved from a room adjacent to the mayor's suite into one farther back in the administration's wing. And he missed a meeting of the Pittsburgh Housing Authority board, which he chairs, prompting the mayor to characterize that post as "in transition."
City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle chaired the authority board meeting. Authority Executive Director A. Fulton Meachem Jr. said he hasn't had a conversation with Mr. Regan in two weeks.
Mr. Regan is receiving $1,775 a week in salary, but the mayor betrayed no rush to finish the probe into whether he quashed discipline against a police detective.
Mr. Regan was accused by Cmdr. Catherine McNeilly of meddling in her effort to discipline Detective Francis Rende, who she said called in sick 37 times so he could work side jobs. Mr. Rende is the brother of Mr. Regan's housemate, Marlene Cassidy, senior secretary in the administration.
Cmdr. McNeilly is also on paid leave during a review of whether it was proper for her to e-mail Mr. Rende's disciplinary records to City Council members.
The investigation is being led by the Law Department, and the mayor revealed yesterday that the team includes the Office of Municipal Investigations. That office serves as a fact finder when there are charges against a city employee, and can judge conduct to be illegal or inappropriate, but can't recommend discipline.
"I've never put a time frame on it," the mayor said. "I think it would be inappropriate to do so. The Law Department, as well as OMI, are working on it on a daily basis and are moving forward.
"The investigation is still ongoing, and I've said from the beginning that we're going to make sure we take a look at everything, leave no stone unturned."
He said he did not know when Mr. Regan will be interviewed. "He definitely will be brought in, as well as, I assume, Cmdr. McNeilly," he said.
Mr. Regan's office effects have been moved from the room he occupied during a month-long stint as acting chief of staff to a room farther back in the mayor's wing, said mayoral spokesman Dick Skrinjar. Chief of Staff Yarone Zober has taken Mr. Regan's former office.
Mr. Skrinjar said Mr. Regan has turned in his city-issued Chevrolet Impala. Mr. Regan did not respond to a written request for an interview left at his Point Breeze home.
First Published October 27, 2006 12:00 am
