Former Washington County comptroller files grievance

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County comptroller who was fired last week has filed paperwork to get back her job.

Ashley Farber said she filed a request for a grievance hearing Tuesday.

Comptroller duties

The Washington County comptroller oversees the roughly $68 million budget. Comptroller Office duties include:

• Reviewing, researching and recommending contacts for services, supplies, and equipment.

• Assisting all departments with purchasing and accounting.

• Reviewing all departmental budget expenditures throughout the year to help manage fund.

Source: Washington County

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Justice of the Peace Lisa Ecke, chairwoman of the Quorum Court committee that oversees grievance hearings, said Thursday that Human Resources Director Michael Watson is trying to schedule a date for the hearing. Ecke is a Republican who represents southeastern Springdale.

County Attorney Brian Lester, who also acts as the county's spokesman, said in email Thursday he didn't know about Farber's grievance. Farber said she turned her paperwork in to Watson.

Lester, County Judge Joseph Wood, Chief of Staff Carl Gales and Watson didn't answer questions about the firing sent via email this week.

Farber was fired April 6. Her termination letter said, in part, "the county" wanted to move the office in a different direction. Farber provided the letter showing her termination was effective immediately. She said no one told her why she was fired.

The comptroller handles the daily financial operations and budgeting of the county. Farber oversaw, in part, the process for the $68 million budget.

Wood, a Republican, oversees the Comptroller's Office. Lester said in email last week the firing is a "personnel matter and the county has no comment."

Farber was hired July 25, 2005, according to county records. She was promoted to comptroller under County Judge Marilyn Edwards, a Democrat, in June 2016. Farber replaced Cheryl Bolinger, who had retired.

Farber had a salary of $64,707, according to the 2018 budget.

The grievance is the second against Wood, who fired former County Attorney Steve Zega when he took office in 2017. Lester replaced Zega, who filed a grievance upheld by the Grievance Committee in January 2017. Despite the finding, Wood didn't rehire Zega.

NW News on 04/13/2018

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