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Finance director resigns after commission questions; emergency financial committee convened
Summary
Following public concerns about prior director Brad Burke and staff turnover, the commission recessed for an emergency Financial Management Committee meeting and received an email in which Burke resigned effective 10:45 PM. Commissioners debated procedures to remove or retain the director during the meeting.
Public questions about the finance office surfaced during public comment and committee reports and prompted an emergency recess for the Financial Management Committee. Resident Roy Livingston said a former finance director had previously stated that the financial department was "a mess" and asked whether that official remained on the payroll.
Chairwoman Ginger Holdren told the commission the committee had invited Carolyn Watson to serve as the new Finance Director and said offers of outside help were in place to support the transition. Members raised concerns that Brad Burke had not trained staff and that several employees had left; one motion to terminate Burke for cause (moved by Mark Blevins) did not receive a second.
Attorney Josh Hardin explained that state law requires the Financial Management Committee to vote on hiring and firing of the finance director and that the county could not suspend state law by a simple commission vote; the meeting recessed so the committee could convene. During the emergency Financial Management Committee meeting, the commission received an email from Brad Burke in which he resigned effective 10:45 PM; minutes of the emergency meeting are to be included in the September packet.
No formal investigation findings were presented at the Aug. 23 meeting; commissioners asked for patience while the finance office completes transition tasks and for the Financial Management Committee to pursue any committee-level actions required by state law.
