Needed: A little more candor

The city of Galveston’s investigation into its traffic division involves the use of city employees’ time.

It’s an investigation into whether the city was defrauded, including an investigation into whether just about everything the traffic division did required more labor than it should have.

None of that is in the official record. All of it comes from people who are familiar with the investigation.

City officials have been scrupulous in not saying what the investigation is about, although they placed all 12 members of the division on administrative leave, called 10 back to work and accepted the resignation of the supervisor and one other person.

It’s obvious city officials are trying to protect workers who are not to blame for the problems discovered.

But public employees are paid with public dollars, and ordinary residents have a right to know generally what problem is being investigated. The city should make at least some kind of official statement of what this is about.

There’s precedent for that. Remember, about a year ago, when seven city employees were fired, resigned or transferred to other departments after some were caught on tape using city materials and time building a barbecue pit trailer meant for personal use? The city was far more forthcoming with information.

Also, saying what this is about eliminates discussion of what the problem is not about. Problems with employee time are serious — but people can imagine worse. The city should cut off that kind of speculation with a little more candor.