Mayor Joe Hogsett may be looking for a new deputy mayor of public health and safety after the City-County Council sidelined the confirmation vote of Lena Hill.
The 25-member legislative body, of which 19 are Democrats like Hogsett, tabled its vote during a council meeting April 7. Hill has faced questions around her leadership and the work culture at the Office of Public Health and Safety since she was appointed to the role in August.
LeRoy Robinson, a Democrat who chairs the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, said he and other councilors decided to postpone Hill’s approval because they “have a few more questions” for Hill and for the Hogsett administration.
“We’ve been meeting with Ms. Hill for the past several weeks, and she’s in the process of trying to meet with all of the councilors. Discussions haven’t been aligned yet,” Robinson told Mirror Indy following the council meeting.
Robinson said he couldn’t say whether the council planned to revisit the vote at its meeting next month.
Hill attended the meeting April 7, but left shortly after her part was over without taking questions from the media. Hill previously defended her actions, saying she was the target of a “clear and strategic attempt to slander my reputation.”
It’s unclear how much longer Hill will serve in the role, but the administration appears to be looking at alternatives. When asked to comment on the council’s decision, a Hogsett spokesperson said Hill “will continue to serve in that capacity until a new appointment is made.”
The council’s decision to table Hill’s appointment is just the latest bump in the road in what has been a rocky rollout for the deputy mayor.
During her confirmation process, councilors heard from current and former city employees who took issue with Hill’s leadership style, which some described as “authoritative.”
Carlette Duffy, chief financial officer for the Office of Public Health and Safety, said she has a pending workplace harassment claim against Hill. Meanwhile, Martine Romy Bernard-Tucker, the former OPHS director, wrote in her resignation letter that she resigned because of Hill.
Mirror Indy filed an Access to Public Records Act request Jan. 23 seeking a copy of Hill’s personnel file, but the Hogsett administration has not provided it.
Should the council reject or decide not to vote on her confirmation, Hill would be the second Hogsett appointment in the past month to fail to gain council approval.
Last month, the mayor was forced to withdraw his pick to lead the newly created Indianapolis Animal Care Services agency, Kelly Diamond, after she faced intense public criticism from current and former animal care volunteers.
Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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