2/3/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

rFEB 3 1993 BOOK 88 PAGE 7.34 -1 County Attorney Vitunac advised that this is an appeal of employment termination, but we don't know at this time exactly what his appeal is. Deputy County Attorney Will Collins will give a history, Recreation Director Pat Callahan will read into the record the termination letter she gave to Mr. Hallquist back in November, and then Administrator Chandler's letter upholding the termination will be read into the record. At that time we will turn the appeal over to Mr. Hallquist, who will have time to make an appeal including calling County witnesses and asking questions or making legal arguments or whatever else he would like to say. Attorney Vitunac noted that he has divorced himself from this situation and that Attorney Collins will be the lead attorney for staff. Attorney Collins will respond to whatever Mr. Hallquist says, and at that time Attorney Collins may introduce evidence backing up the County Administrator's letter. Attorney Vitunac noted that there wasn't any backup material to the Agenda for this meeting. This is an appeal which means that the burden of proof is on Mr. Hallquist, who is representing himself today without legal counsel. Therefore, we will bend over backwards to make sure the record is full and he has every chance, and we will do whatever we can so that the hearing is fair to both sides. County Attorney Will Collins wished to begin by giving a brief history of Mr. Hallquist's termination process: Mr. Hallquist was employed by the County as a supervisor of lifeguards. He met with Recreation Director Pat Callahan in mid-September, 1992, and after a couple of meetings, which may or may not be gone into in more detail here, he was terminated by Mrs. Callahan on September 18, 1992. Three days later on September 21, 1992, the written termination notice was forwarded to Mr. Hallquist under the signature of Pegi Wilkes, Acting Director,of Recreation. Mr. Hallquist subsequently hired Attorney James Wilson, who filed a timely, formal appeal on September 28, 1992, setting out some procedural objections to the discharge as well as some substantive challenges to the discharge. Hearings were held by the County Administrator on October 21 and continued to October 27 at which time Mr. Hallquist's appeal was heard by Administrator Chandler. Questions were asked by Administrator Chandler of Mr. Hallquist and questions were asked of County staff by Attorney Wilson on Mr. Hallquist's behalf. After those appeal hearings, Administrator Chandler issued a determination upholding the discharge by letter dated November 3, 1992. Attorney Wilson filed an immediate appeal on behalf of Mr. Hallquist for an appeal to the County Commission. However, that appeal was delayed. The time lapse between the 2 M M