Savonlinna city council addresses workplace safety complaints against City Manager Janne Laine

The city council of Savonlinna convened on Monday evening to address workplace safety complaints lodged against City Manager Janne Laine. Two municipal employees filed these complaints in early September, alleging harassment or inappropriate behavior by Laine and another senior official.

Throughout the fall, the council’s leadership, along with the personnel manager, city attorney, and safety officer, investigated the claims. The inquiry included discussions with all parties involved on three separate occasions. As no resolution was reached, the matter was escalated to the city council for further deliberation.

During Monday’s meeting, the council, acting under Laine’s supervision, reviewed the complaints against both him and the other official, as they relate to the same issues. The council’s chair, Eija Stenberg, presented the case for discussion. Despite an extended meeting, no decision was made, with Stenberg indicating that a resolution will be sought during an extraordinary session scheduled for December 11.

Laine suggested that the complaints stem from preparations related to a real estate transaction, asserting that the two employees had failed to complete their assigned tasks, prompting his intervention. He claims that the subsequent safety complaints against him and the other official are unfounded, with both officials viewing them as inappropriate. While Laine acknowledges the necessity of processing the complaints, he emphasizes the importance of completing the preparatory work for the real estate deal. His leadership has faced scrutiny in Savonlinna previously.