Mayor Scott won’t say whether two Baltimore employees are still working for the city

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Mayor Brandon Scott would not say whether two Baltimore city employees facing questions about their conduct are still working for the city or being paid by taxpayers.

One is Deputy City Administrator Shamiah Kerney, whose conduct was examined in two reports by the city’s Office of the Inspector General. The other is Kara DiPietro, a Department of General Services employee who was indicted this month on six federal bank-fraud counts tied to alleged fraud involving Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Asked whether Kerney is still employed, Scott said he does not discuss “open personnel issues.” He also declined to explain DiPietro’s role or say whether the city had taken action following her indictment.

“Any appropriate action that the city can take, while we have a process of indictment happening, we will take,” Scott said.

Federal prosecutors allege DiPietro submitted more than 20 PPP loan applications seeking more than $7.5 million. Eight applications were funded, and accounts under her control received more than $2.5 million, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also allege some proceeds were used for expenses not allowed under the program, including renovations to her home.

A March Inspector General report described violent and profane Microsoft Teams messages sent by a city employee to coworkers. The report found the messages violated the city’s technology-use policy and could contribute to a hostile workplace. The employee was not named in the public synopsis. FOX45 later identified her as Kerney.

The report also described Kerney encouraging a subordinate to use a workplace connection to help with a personal home permit, after the employee said it felt wrong to jump the line. In another message, Kerney wrote that a curse word should be attributed to her “in case this gets MPIA’ed,” referring to a public records request.

The Mayor’s Office responded that “the appropriate response to this personnel matter will be undertaken.” It did not publicly specify what that response would be.

In September, another Inspector General report said Kerney directed a city employee to remove the watchdog’s access to records related to her. The Mayor’s Office and Law Department argued Kerney “could qualify as a protected whistleblower” for raising concerns about the Inspector General’s access.

The dispute over access grew into a legal battle between the Scott administration and the Inspector General. In a statement provided to FOX45 News this week, the Mayor’s Office also accused Inspector General Isabel Cumming of offering to suppress the March report if the senior employee were fired. Cumming has denied offering to suppress or limit the report. She said she asked city officials not to tell the employee that any action was based on an Inspector General report because she feared retaliation.

Asked whether taxpayers would ever know if their money was paying the salaries of employees who had been investigated or indicted, Scott said the city would act “in accordance with law,” adding that officials do not want the city to be sued and spend more taxpayer money.

“We are looking out how we can make sure that the taxpayer dollars are being spent the right way in all cases,” Scott said.

He said employees should meet “the highest standards” and that “actions have to be taken” when employees engage in alleged conduct like that described in Kerney’s case. But he did not say what action the city took.

Scott said Baltimore has “a track record of taking everything seriously.” He did not confirm whether Kerney or DiPietro remains employed, whether either is still being paid, or whether either has been placed on leave or reassigned.

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