Questions Emerge Over City of Orange Beach's Handling of Alleged Complaint Involving After-School Program

Orange Beach Expect Excellence [Courtesy of City of Orange Beach]

As questions continue to surround transparency and internal reporting within the City of Orange Beach, Murder Creek Media has learned of a separate matter that raises additional questions about how allegations involving City employees are handled.

The investigation stems from information provided by a former City employee regarding events involving the City's Expect Excellence after-school program during or around the summer of 2023.

According to audio recordings obtained by Murder Creek Media and information provided by the former employee, the Director of the City's Expect Excellence after-school program was involved in a romantic relationship with an employee who worked under her supervision.

The relationship itself is not the focus of this investigation. Rather, the central question is whether City leadership was notified of conduct that potentially conflicted with the City's personnel policies and, if so, whether those policies were followed.

Murder Creek Media contacted the program director for comment regarding the allegations and the City's handling of the matter but did not receive a response.

According to the former employee, after other staff members became aware of the relationship, the individuals involved disclosed the matter to City Administrator Ford Handley. Murder Creek Media has not independently verified that disclosure occurred.

To determine how the City responded, Murder Creek Media submitted a series of questions to Handley asking whether he had received a report concerning the allegations, whether an internal investigation had been conducted, and what actions, if any, had been taken.

Handley declined to answer whether any report had been received or whether an investigation had occurred, citing personnel confidentiality.

"Please note regarding questions 1-5, all reports of misconduct are addressed under the guidance of the Human Resources Director according to the City Personnel Manual," Handley wrote in an email response. "While it is the goal of the City to ensure transparency, because these questions relate to specific personnel matters, the City cannot comment on them publicly."

Although Handley declined to discuss the specific allegations, he confirmed that the City maintains policies governing relationships between supervisors and subordinate employees.

"The City prohibits sexual or romantic relationships between employees in the same chain of command or department where a senior/subordinate professional relationship exists or could reasonably be expected," Handley wrote. "The City also prohibits unduly familiar personal relationships that could adversely affect the morale, operations or efficiency of City departments or divisions."

When asked about the City's procedures for handling allegations involving supervisory personnel, Handley stated that such matters are reviewed under the guidance of the Human Resources Director in accordance with the City Personnel Manual.

"Allegations of employee misconduct involving supervisory personnel are reviewed in accordance with the City Personnel Manual and under the guidance of the Human Resources Director," Handley wrote. "When warranted, matters are investigated and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken consistent with City policy."

He also described the City's general approach to employee misconduct investigations.

"In my role as City Administrator, I am committed to ensuring Orange Beach is responsible and transparent in its governance," Handley wrote. "The City takes reports of employee misconduct seriously and addresses them through the appropriate internal process, including review by Human Resources in accordance with the City Personnel Manual."

Handley added that the City's personnel policies and administrative procedures apply to City employees but "are not applicable to elected officials."

Separately, Handley has been identified in a recently filed ethics complaint involving Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon.

The complaint, filed by three members of the Orange Beach City Council, alleges Handley was aware of a September 2, 2024 incident involving the mayor before members of the City Council were informed. It also raises questions about whether potentially relevant surveillance footage from a City-owned building was requested or preserved following the incident.

That incident became public after Orange Beach resident and attorney C.C. Dixon-Moreno sought police body camera footage related to the response. According to the witness, she reported seeing a naked man on a balcony at the City-owned Coastal Resources building strike a woman three times. Body camera audio that was later leaked publicly captured a man identifying himself to responding officers as Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon. Kennon has publicly denied the allegations.

The allegations examined in this article are separate from those raised in the ethics complaint, and Murder Creek Media is not suggesting the incidents are connected. However, both matters involve questions regarding internal reporting, transparency, documentation, and how City leadership responds when allegations involving employees or public officials are brought to its attention.