The Thompson Nicola Regional District’s finance boss remains on paid leave after her complaint spurred two investigations into spending and the behaviour of “key” administrators.

But, the regional district couldn’t separate CFO Carla Fox from the several employees she named in a nine-page letter, so she was placed on leave instead and the investigations began.

That’s according to the regional district’s response in court as Fox asks for a judge to order her back to the office.

She filed a BC Supreme Court petition on Oct. 9, claiming the regional district has an “entrenched culture” of mismanaged finances, but she faced “obstruction” and “intimidation” when she tried to rein in department spending.

In its Nov. 5 response, the regional district confirmed it launched two investigations based on Fox’s complaints.

It first hired an external accountant to probe how the regional district is managing taxpayer funds, marking the second time in five years after a spending scandal shook the regional district and uncovered a “culture of intimidation” to evade spending controls.

The extent of the new investigation and who is doing the work isn’t known. The regional district also didn’t describe when it began or when it might be complete.

The second investigation Fox prompted follows complaints about “interpersonal” behaviour about several “key” employees, which was initially planned to start after the financial review. It started early upon a demand from Fox.

In her petition, Fox said it was unusual and improper that she be placed on leave rather than the subjects of her complaint, but the regional district defended the move.

The regional district said several employees she complained about are “essential to… core operations and administrative continuity.” Separating them from Fox was “operationally impossible” because they would either be put on leave or forced to work remotely.

Who Fox complained about isn’t known, but her allegations were laid out in an “extensive” nine-page letter, raising issues with both spending and interpersonal behaviour, according to the regional district’s court response.

Aside from the complaints Fox levied, the regional district said it has its own concerns about her.

It confirmed that a workplace investigation into Fox’s behaviour found she didn’t breach any policies, but it still tried in vain to have a mediator work with her and the subordinate who launched the complaint late last year. The subordinate quit last December.

The next month, CAO Scott Hildebrand sent Fox a letter after a performance review for all senior management. He raised concerns about Fox’s conduct that were “placing her employment at risk,” according to the regional district.

She abruptly left the office and, two days letter, took a medical leave that extended to March 30. Hildebrand stepped in to fill her role as chief financial officer in the interim.

Fox sent her nine-page letter to the regional district on March 23, disputing her performance review, along with her other complaints. She has been on paid leave since the end of that month, according to the regional district.

The allegations from either party have not been proven in court.