Hennessey Interim Town Administrator Starla Fuksa handed out her two-page report to trustees right before their Tuesday night meeting started.

When the Times and Free Press reporter asked Fuksa for a copy of whatever she’d distributed to trustees, she was told she’d have to wait until later.

Since those papers became public records as soon as they hit the board table, Fuksa relented and gave the reporter a copy. Others in the audience asked for copies and more were provided by other town staffers.

That was three hours before trustees hired Tiffany Tillman as town administrator in a 3-1 vote and Fuksa was terminated in a 3-1 vote as interim administrator.

Voting yes on both motions were Mayor Clif Vogt and Trustees Bert Gritz and Randy Bohnstedt. Voting no was Trustee David Jones.

Vice Mayor Harold Shaw left the meeting after the board’s nearly three-hour executive session and before that vote.

Fuksa’s report listed these potential issues she’d found during her one month as interim administrator: Fraud?

Tillman was hired in August to train employees on the computer system and in Fuksa’s report it’s suggested that Tillman committed “fraud.”

Her claim is that Tillman did not train town hall employees on the computer system while administrator for 17 years, then was paid $1,350 for 20 days to train staff in August with no breakdown of calls, or hours, “only a lump sum.”

Fuksa also wrote, “Here we are paying for services from the same individual that did not do what was expected of them, or in their job description…Please correct me if I’m wrong, but is this a type of fraud? The definition of fraud states: a person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities.”

Texting

When Fuksa attended a computer training session, she wrote that “the trainer (Tillman) spent most of the time on the phone. Unknowingly the phone was still connected to the computer I was using. The trainer was texting her mother repeatedly.”

After Tillman’s mother, Sharon Pollard, read that item she approached Fuksa while trustees were still in closed session, and said, “This isn’t right.”

“That’s what was on my computer,” Fuksa told her.

“It’s not right,” Pollard said again. “I have it on my phone.”

“It’s what was on my computer,” Fuksa said, then a few seconds later said, “I don’t have to listen to this. Give the board my apologies. I’m leaving.”

She left the meeting about 45 minutes before the board returned to open session.

Other Issues Listed

• Lack of communication.

• Continuing problem with finding a credit card that was issued and still missing.

• No inventories on equipment or supplies owned by the town.

• Several charge accounts (Northern Tool, Lowe’s, Sam’s, Amazon, Walmart).

• Items and equipment ordered but not located: roaster ovens, handicap equipment, laptops.

• Frequent orders from Sam’s: grapes, oranges, bananas, protein shakes (multiple orders), salsa, beans, chicken breasts, apples, chicken tortilla soup, etc.

• Employees taking pictures of documents and sending them on their cell phones.

• Cash receipts given, but no payment reflected on a customer’s bill.

• Debit card issued to previous employee without approval. Current employee asked the bank for a debit card, but was refused.

• Employees approving their own overtime.

• Refusal to provide open records to citizens, board members.

• An employee wasn’t happy they weren’t making the same as another employee and said they “better receive more” at their next anniversary date.

• Purchase orders made without administrator’s approval.

• Purchase order for a drill and bit made so the Lions Club could drill holes for town. Fuksa said she asked why the town was purchasing it and said she was told that “they better make it happen.” ( Note: Trustees approved that at an earlier board meeting so that U.S. flags could be placed downtown during holidays.)

• No employee exit interviews conducted.

Is Agenda Topic Legal?

Before trustees went into executive session, Shaw challenged the agenda item.

He said it didn’t meet the requirements for action because it did not list the name of the interim town administrator.

Shaw said Mick Dodson with the state Auditor & Inspector’s Office said they always had to list the name of the person to be discussed.

Town Attorney John Wynne said the title of the employee is sufficient in this case because there is only one acting town administrator.

“It’s always good to list the person’s name too, but not required,” he said.

Shaw also questioned Wynne about the lengthy and vague agenda items on both hiring a town administrator, or taking action … including the termination between the town and the existing interim Town Administrator.

The Times & Free Press reporter had also questioned that wording, and contacted Dodson before the meeting. She told trustees he said it was OK.

Dodson’s email response: “The law requires that the agenda provide enough information that the public can know the specific person/ position to be addressed.”

“How much time did it take you to write that (90--word agenda item)?” Jones asked the attorney.

He added that he’d been unable to find a contract between his firm and the town.

“I made a request to your firm, but didn’t get a reply,” Jones said.

Wynne said, “That’s because the contract is with me, not the firm.”

He also said the town could quit his services at any time, or he could quit and has quit others.

Jones apparently asked his questions because board members had complained at recent meetings it was taking a long time for the attorney to provide information to them.