HELENA – A new legislative audit says the state Department of Transportation hired unqualified applicants for agency jobs.
Lee Newspapers of Montana reported Wednesday that auditors reviewed five recruitment files and found that in three cases, the person who was hired didn’t meet the minimum qualifications. Two of the three jobs were in management.
Department personnel told auditors that former management circumvented the hiring committee’s recommendations. The auditors say it appears personal, family or other relationships were likely the reasons the people were hired.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer asked Jim Lynch to resign as Transportation Director in August. Lynch’s daughter was hired for a human resources job in December 2008.
Transportation Director Tim Reardon says the agency will review its hiring and promotions over the past two years.
Lynch couldn’t be reached for comment.