A SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Chippewa County Road Commissioners was duly held in their offices located at 3949 S. Mackinac Trail, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on January 18, 2008.

 

The meeting was called to order at 8:58 a.m.

 

PRESENT:  Chairman MacDonald, Commissioners Carr and Holt, Manager Heckman, Office Mgr Decker and Chief Mechanic Sibbald.

 

PURPOSE:  Employee Hearing for John Meehan

 

Chairman MacDonald began the meeting with a brief synopsis of the events.

 

Mr. Meehan explained that he didn’t know that the CDL was a major concern with regards to his employment indicating he would have made other arrangements for his start date so he could complete the CDL.

 

Mrs. Susan Meehan spoke as to whom actually wrote the CDL information on his application stating she was the one who completed that portion of the application.

 

Mr. Meehan stated he has the last portion of the CDL scheduled for tomorrow.

 

Manager Heckman stated the actual basis for termination was that he didn’t have a CDL and not the fact he falsified his application.  Applicants are not considered for the interview process if they don’t have a CDL.  As such, he was short listed and selected for an interview because he had a CDL.

 

Chairman MacDonald stated that Mr. Meehan had a couple of opportunities to indicate his CDL was temporary.  He also raised concerns that the CDL wasn’t completed during his two months of employment.

 

Mr. Meehan stated he didn’t know it was a pressing issue and didn’t think it was going to effect his employment in this way.

 

Commissioner Holt stated that based on the facts as known and the other people that were not considered and did have CDL’s he cannot see changing the decision that was made.

 

Commissioner MacDonald reiterated that if you didn’t have a CDL you were not considered for an interview and could open us up for speculation from those other applicants.

 

Mrs. Meehan suggested changing the advertisement to state a CDL is required to alleviate any speculation that those without would be considered in the interview process.

 

MOTION by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr to support Manager Heckman’s decision to terminate Mr. Meehan.

 

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

 

Chairman MacDonald stated the mechanic position will be advertised next week and Mr. Meehan is welcome to re-apply and this proceeding would not be considered in future hiring decisions.

 

Questions were raised regarding the process of interviewing and advertising.  Discussion followed.  A minimum of a couple of weeks is expected.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the application and the advertisement language.

 

Chairman MacDonald asked about the white-out on the CDL portion of the application.  Mrs. Meehan stated she whited out that section and added that what’s there presently is based on information received from the front office.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board it was MOVED by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr that the meeting be adjourned at 9:27 a.m.

 

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

 

 

 

___________________________       ________________________

Brian F. Decker                   Louis N. MacDonald

Deputy Clerk                      Chairman