LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer the city of Gary’s parks director, according to a statement from spokeswoman Erika Blackwell.
“Effective Dec. 30, 2024, LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer an employee of the city of Gary,” Blackwell’s Monday statement said. “The Melton administration is thankful for her service as director of parks and her significant contributions to our city. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
Parks Manager Don Plohg will serve as interim director of parks, Blackwell said in an email.
On Jan. 6, Mattiee Fitzgerald-Williams, director of the Gary recycling department, will become director of parks.
“(Fitzgerald-Williams) has dedicated over two decades to the city and currently oversees our recycling department, where her leadership and commitment have been invaluable,” Blackwell said. “We are confident that her extensive experience and passion for public service will bring continued success to the parks department.”
Sparks-Wade’s exit comes two weeks after the Post-Tribune reported that employees accused her of harassment and receiving funds for a summer youth coordinator position that she didn’t work.
The former director of parks declined to speak about the allegations.
Blackwell responded to the harassment allegations in a Nov. 19 email but declined to comment on the ghost payroll claims.
“At the city of Gary, we work hard to create an environment where everyone feels safe,” Blackwell’s Nov. 19 statement said. “We are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive culture. As a general rule, we thoroughly investigate all (human resources) complaints, and we don’t discuss personnel issues externally.”
Sparks-Wade was paid $7,000 for a summer youth coordinator position out of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Gary Common Council members were told during an April 23 Ways and Means committee meeting that the position would have been filled by someone aged 19-22.
All meetings are available to watch on the Gary Common Council’s Facebook page.
The council held a special meeting Oct. 29, and seven members voted against retroactively paying Sparks-Wade for the position. Councilwoman Marian Ivey, D-At Large, and former Councilman Mark Spencer, D-At Large, abstained from the vote.
The youth program salary was added months after the council approved lowering Sparks-Wade’s salary from about $80,000 to $70,000.
It’s unclear if the council’s vote prevented Sparks-Wade from receiving the funds as she has told co-workers that she’s refusing to pay it back. Blackwell didn’t say if the accusations led to Sparks-Wade’s departure.
A Gary employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said Sparks-Wade’s timesheets would say she worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the parks department and as youth coordinator from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lakesha Mosley, a former parks department employee, said Sparks-Wade, her former boss, harassed her from May until her Nov. 4 termination. She spoke with the city’s human resources department on Nov. 4 and felt Sparks-Wade retaliated against her.
Mosley had previously been harassed while employed as a citizen service assistant from October 2023 to February, she said.
Once she worked for the parks department, Sparks-Wade asked Mosley personal questions, specifically about her appearance, that she felt were inappropriate.
The anonymous Gary employee also said she heard Sparks-Wade’s comments toward Mosley, and the employee made a complaint about their former boss’ actions to human resources.