FAYETTEVILLE — Two of three employees recently fired from the Fayetteville Animal Shelter received merit pay increases during the past year, one as recently as June.
Animal Services Superintendent Jill Hatfield and Coordinator Mitzi O'Dell were terminated from their jobs last week for nonperformance of duties.
City Human Resources Director Missy Leflar released some personnel file information for the two women on Monday, after she redacted information pertaining to job performance.
Hatfield's records showher salary at $76,696 per year, based on an October 2008 merit increase. The form indicates she "topped out" her salary with that increase. She joined the shelter in 2001. Hatfield was terminated from her position but offered a different position with the city - which she declined.
O'Dell's records show she received a merit increase in June, making her salary $47,201 per year. A one-year salary freeze for city employees began July 1. O'Dell worked for the humane society in March 1994, when the city took that shelter as its own.
Community Services Director Yolanda Fields became head over animal services last spring, when Mayor Lioneld Jordan restructured divisions after taking office.
Fields said a week-long investigation into shelter procedures in September led to the terminations. The investigation stemmed from complaints about euthanasia procedures, but the terminations weren't directly related to those complaints, Fields said.
Leflar said no animals were harmed by any of the actions that led to the terminations.
"This had nothing to do with mistreatment of animals or euthanasia. These were employee behaviors that could occur anywhere," Leflar said.
Leflar asked the Arkansas attorney general to issue an opinion about her decision that no compelling public interest exists to require the city to release the termination documents.
Leflar said she attached those documents to her request of the attorney general.
"The termination documents very clearly and unambiguously set out the reasons for the terminations," Leflar wrote in an e-mail to the Northwest Arkansas Times. "If the AG says my interpretation is wrong ... I will absolutely release the documents to you right away."
Leflar said Hatfield told her she will seek a judicial review if the attorney general's opinion suggests releasing the termination documents, and O'Dell said she might.
An animal caregiver, Jerry Lennox, was also terminated two weeks ago, based on reports of threats he made to other shelter employees, which were discovered during the investigation. Lennox's attorney, George Oleson, wrote a letter to the city Friday objecting to any release of employee records or investigative material.
"It is our position that any employee records that may have become subject to release under [the Freedom of Information Act] in connection with a matter of legitimate public concern must nevertheless be withheld from release if they relate to a matter that is, or may become, a subject of criminal prosecution," Oleson, of Winslow, wrote.
Lennox's case was investigated by Fayetteville police, and the file turned over to Casey Jones, city prosecutor. Jones may decide whether to file charges this week, Leflar said.
In the meantime, Dr. Rob Jones, staff veterinarian at the shelter, will supervise all medical aspects of operations.
"He is the senior management team member on site and will be available to answer questions for staff," Fields said. "I have two individuals acting as coordinators for the operations on site. I am supervising the operations [and] administrative tasks. Operations will continue on a normal routine."
Fields said the positions will be advertised soon, and she may restructure positions.
Based on the investigation, Fields plans several procedural improvements, including creating written protocols for euthanasia procedures and training for selection of animals to be euthanized. Written protocol will also be established for a system to ensure all adoptable animals are placed on the Web site Petfinder to facilitate adoption.
News, Pages 1, 7 on 09/29/2009