Corporation Counsel Robin Stowe and the county's labor attorney, John Prentice at the meeting today. |
County board cuts funding for post in tiff over court clerk hiring Jan. 20, 2009 The Langlade County Board of Supervisors had a power play today with one of its elected officials, and chose the option of cutting funds.
The January meeting had a quiet agenda, but lurking behind the words was a situation in the office of clerk of courts.
At the December board meeting, supervisors approved filling a vacancy in the office to allow for an employee shift inside the courthouse.
Victoria Adamski, her staff and a member of the board’s personnel committee interviewed four of the 20 people who applied for the position and from that field selected Sara Adamski, the clerk’s daughter-in-law, for the post.
Adamski named her chief deputy in her office and her position was protected from board action. But it didn’t isolate the situation from supervisor angst.
Copies of the county’s nepotism rules came out and the selection started getting second and third glances leading to the refilling of the position to surface on today’s agenda.
John Prentice, the county’s labor relations attorney, joined Robin Stowe, corporation counsel, in addressing the board to explain the process of the chief deputy status and powers of elected employees. Both men agreed that Adamski had made “a lawful appointment.”
“It is her right to select the person she did,” Stowe said.
The board may have agreed, but decided by a 12-7 vote not to provide funds to fill the vacancy in the already busy court office.
It took more than an hour of discussion to get to the vote that cut the funds.
Stowe and Prentice stressed the legality of the action but also noted that financing could be cut — but it was up to Adamski how to allocate the funds.
“It is possible that she can retain her daughter-in-law as chief deputy,” Stowe said during a break following the vote. That would mean that someone else in the office might have to go.
Supervisor George Bornemann told the crowd that he was amazed that something like this could happen.
“We are proponents of good clean government,” he said. “Things like this just don’t happen.”
Bornemann said that although he understood the need to retain the position he could not in good conscious vote to continue its funding.
“This just stinks,” he said.
The sentiment was reflected by others as well including supervisor Bob Benishek.
“I can’t believe an elected official would put a cloud over her office,” he said.
Richard Olsen also raised some objection to the selection, suggesting it appeared to be an “in-your-face” attitude, but he advised that another option could be taken.
“We may want to put the office on notice that budget discussions are coming and something could be done then,” he said.
The personnel committee which approved the solution was also attacked but supervisor Jim Jansen, who sat in on the interviews, said the selection named was “head and shoulders” above any of the other applicants.
Judge Fred Kawalski praised the operation of the clerk of circuit courts office.
He explained that the office personnel work “like a rowing team” with a spirit of cooperation and cross-training and as a result, filling an open position is a “difficult” task.
“They have intelligence, people skills, honesty and confidentiality,” he said, giving support to Adamski and her management.
“Vicky is one of the most honest people I know. She drips with integrity,” he said.
“If you take away one of these positions, there will be gridlock,” he added.
Adamski also took the floor.
“I’ve been battered here today,” she said, stressing “I did not pull any strings to get a relative hired.”
She explained the selection of her daughter-in-law, telling the supervisors about the interview process and the steps that each candidate was exposed to during the process.
She noted that two office employees, one with 32 years and the other with 30 plus years with her, were in the gallery at the meeting.
“They are my support,” she said.
Adamski explained the process where the decision to hire her daughter-in-law was made, stressing that “all of the bases were covered.”
“I’m not hiding anything,” she insisted, stating that it was her mission to hire the “most trustworthy and qualified person.”
But when the vote was taken, funding of the vacancy position needed 14 votes and got 12.
Among those supporting the position were Richard Olsen, Joe Barnett, Jim Jansen, Richard Hurlbert, Vern Cahak, Pat McKinney-Rice and Dale Dahms.
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