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to deny the appeal. Although obviously not an attorney, I am of the opinion this would also hold true in a formal court setting involving additional witnesses and sworn testimony. However, in my opinion, more importantly, Mr. Hallquist admitted to me at the appeal meeting, his use of the illegal substance, marijuana, as recent as this summer. His differing responses to the question of his drug use during the appeal meeting are also of concern to me as to the credibility of his testimony. In view of his admissions to the use of marijuana, at the appeal meeting, I do not believe it was necessary to pursue the question as to whether the drug screen was valid or not. Based on the information presented and considering the context of the administrative hearing, I believe it is difficult to totally substantiate "....habitual use or abuse of controlled dangerous substances; or reporting for work while obviously under the influence of alcohol or drugs." However, based on the information presented and Mr. Hallquist's admissions, at the appeal meeting to the use of marijuana, in my opinion he clearly violated Group I I I Offenses: -1111. Immoral, unlawful or improper conduct, or indecency, either on or off the job, which tend to affect the employee's relationship to the job, fellow workers, reputation or goodwill in the community." The position of a public safety supervisor is one in which the individual filling that position is vested with a extreme amount of responsibility and trust from the other employees, employer, and public, whom he is there to protect. In my opinion, Mr. Hallquist's violation warranted termination, As a result, I deny the appeal for reinstatement. As provided for in Section 12.07 E, you have the right to appeal this decision to the Board of County Commissioners. Yours truly, James E. Chandler County Administrator cc: Jon M. Hallquist Pat Callahan, VB/IRC Recreation Director William G. Collins II, Deputy County Attorney Jack Price, Personnel Director Attorney Vitunac advised that at this time it would be appropriate to turn this over to Mr. Hallquist, the employee appellant, to present his case. Before Mr. Hallquist began, Chairman Bird wished to comment that as chairman of the Parks & Recreation Committee he has spent a lot of time in the County's parks and recreational facilities and over the years has gotten to know some of the employees fairly well, one of which is Jon Hallquist who was our head lifeguard for some time. He felt that he and Jon considered each other friends, and Jon showed up at his real estate office one day and asked for his advice in this matter. He gave Jon the advice that he should search his conscience and the truth in the matter, and if he felt that he was right, then to follow the appeal process and fight for his job. He further told him that if he did that research and found that he was honestly wrong in what he did, he may not want to go through the appeal process and the embarrassment that may bring, 13 F 7 BOOK 88 NGE 745