Deputy mayor appointee faces scrutiny INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Mayor Joe Hogsett’s selection to be deputy mayor of public health and safety cleared the first vote on Wednesday night. Lena Hill was given a “do pass” recommendation in a 9-1 vote in the March Public Safety and Criminal Just ice Committee meeting. Councilor Crista Carlino (D) was the only “no” vote. This comes after Hill’s initial confirmation vote, set for the Feb. 12 meeting, was delayed after accusations of workplace harassment and a negative work culture surfaced against Hill. Hogsett appointed Hill as deputy mayor of public health and safety seven months ago. “I am here to help, here to support, here to provide my background and my expertise,” Hill said after the vote. During the March meeting, Carlette Duffy, who identified herself as the chief financial officer for the office of public health and safety, told councilors she filed a harassment claim against Hill in September, less than a month after Hill started. “These activities that have been identified in the claim have continued to date, and it is frustrating and disheartening,” Duffy said. Duffy said she told her supervisors Hill is not fit to serve in this role. Hill declined to comment on the accusations after the committee meeting. She said the February meeting was traumatizing. “I think everyone should have the opportunity to respond,” Hill said. “So, just not having the details at that time, I was just taken back a little bit.” Hill was not confirmed in February after councilors questioned her about the harassment allegations. “It sounds like there’s some unresolved questions that have been brought up, some of which I personally have not been made aware of until this meeting,” said City-County Councilor Paul Annee (R) during the February meeting. During the meeting, Hill said she was unaware of any of these allegations. City-County Councilor Carlos Perkins (D) disagreed with this characterization in February. “I did mention to you during our one-on-one some concerns around the culture of the division,” Perkins said. “This is not our first time having this conversation about the culture of the division. We’ve gotten several complaints about what is currently existent in OPHS (Office of Public Health and Safety).” Hill’s final confirmation vote is set for the next full council meeting on April 7 at 7 p.m. Previous Coverage Hogsett appointee faces questions over treatment of employees ...read more read less