Tony Adams, Herman Porter put on administrative leave

Two employees at the center of a police investigation into the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department audit have been placed on administrative leave with pay until the probe is completed, city officials said today.

The action was taken Wednesday against Tony Adams, 47, director of Parks and Recreation, and Herman Porter, 41, a recreation program specialist. Adams earns $78,939 a year and Porter is paid $30,888, said Tom Barron, the city’s Human Resources director.

Mayor Jim Wetherington ordered City Manager Isaiah Hugley to take action Wednesday afternoon, the same day the city attorney’s office said the six-week police investigation into Parks and Recreation Department turned from an administrative to criminal investigation.

Hugley was called in from vacation. Wetherington declined to comment on specifics but did say Adams and Porter are not allowed to come around the office.

While Adams is on leave, Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin will take over the day-to-day operations of Parks and Recreation. She will be meeting with employees Thursday morning. The department employs about 300 people and has a $10 million budget.

Adams came to work for the city in March 1990 and promoted to director of Parks and Recreation in 2002. Porter joined the city in June 1991.

This story was originally published July 14, 2010 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Tony Adams, Herman Porter put on administrative leave."