HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Civil Service Commission Agenda 09/13/2024
AGENDA
CIVIL SERVICE APPEALS
COMMISSION CITY HALL
CONFERENCE ROOM 235
515 CLARK AVENUE
September 13, 2024
CALL TO ORDER: 2:00 p.m.
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Agenda
3. In the Matter of Sarah McClure Appeal
• Receive and File Specification of Charges
• Consideration of Continuance (if received from counsel)
• Set Notice of Hearing
4. Discussion regarding hearing process
5. Adjourn
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SPECIFICATION OF CHARGES AND GROUNDS
TO: RENEE HALL, CLERK, CITY OF AMES CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION
FROM: POLICE CHIEF GEOFF HUFF, CITY OF AMES
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
RE: SPECIFICATION OF CHARGES AND GROUNDS FOR
TERMINATION OF FORMER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
SUPERVISOR SARAH MCCLURE
I terminated Sarah McClure’s employment as Emergency Communications
Supervisor for the City of Ames effective August 8, 2024.
On August 22, 2024, Ms. McClure filed an appeal of her termination. Pursuant to
Iowa Code Section 400.22, it is my duty to file a written specification of the charges and
grounds upon which the termination was based within fourteen (14) calendar days from
the service of Ms. McClure’s appeal. The following is the timely submission of the written
specification of charges and grounds for termination as required by Iowa law.
In reaching my decision to terminate Ms. McClure’s employment with the City of
Ames, I cited the following factors, which I provided in writing to Ms. McClure on August
8, 2024:
1. Following an internal investigation in July, 2024, including interviews of five
witnesses and following pre-disciplinary hearings with Ms. McClure on July
26, 2024 and August 6, 2024, I found “a pattern of misconduct” in “direct
violation” of City Values and departmental policy…a serious failure of
leadership and disrespectful behavior that demonstrates misconduct which is a
clear violation of the standards of conduct described in the City’s Discipline
Policy, specifically, “Employee Conduct.”
2. I found violations of the City’s Excellence through People values, specifically
“Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Positive Attitude, Respect One Another.”
3. I found violations of “Ames Police Policy 320.5.9(f) under the Standards of
Conduct for ‘Discourteous, disrespectful or discriminatory treatment of any
member of the public or any member of this department or the City.’”
4. I found that Ms. McClure has gossiped about employees she supervises “often
‘piling on’ when dispatchers complain rather than providing solutions,” “called
two dispatchers profane names in front of witnesses,” and “made a significant
number of scheduling errors-resulting in confusion for the dispatchers,
confusion with our partners, and relying on direct reports to fix avoidable
errors.”
5. I found Ms. McClure “created an environment of incredible distrust on [her]
team.” Ms. McClure’s employees did not report issues with her until asked
directly even though they are longstanding issues.
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6. I found these behaviors continued even after Ms. McClure “completed a
Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) that included personalized coaching from
an outside resource paid for by the department.”
7. I found Ms. McClure’s behavior “completely eroded” the trust I must have in
her leadership and that Ms. McClure is not capable of appropriately managing
various essential job functions nor leading her team.
8. I found violations of “Ames Police Policy 320.5.9(h) Criminal, dishonest or
disgraceful conduct, whether on – or off-duty, that adversely affects the
member’s relationship with this department.”
9. Ms. McClure was dishonest with me on July 26, 2024, about sending a July 12,
2024, email to a direct report inquiring whether the employee was “applying
for other jobs” or “plan to resign soon?” After Ms. McClure received the reply
of “I’m not going anywhere,” Ms. McClure replied, “I want to leave too” and
“I am sorry for what I have done or not done which contributed to the demise
of our team.”
10. Ms. McClure’s statements were in “violation of Ames Police Policy
320.5.9(m)” which states, “Any other on-or off-duty conduct which any
member knows or reasonably should know is unbecoming a member of this
department, is contrary to good order, efficiency or morale, or tends to reflect
unfavorably upon this department or its members” and because the
statements “undermine the confidence of [her] subordinates in our
organization.”
11. On August 6, 2024, when discussing the allegations and findings above in
paragraphs 1-10, Ms. McClure repeatedly stated that “none of these issues had
been previously brought to [her] attention,” and failed to take accountability
for her behaviors that are in contravention of the City’s policies and
organizational values. Instead, Ms. McClure blamed her supervisor, stating that
he “should have known” about these behaviors prior to her last performance
evaluation.
12. Ms. McClure’s behaviors described above in paragraphs 1-11 were “in
contravention of law, city policies, or standard operating procedures” and, in
my judgment were “sufficient to show that the employee is unsuitable or unfit
for employment.” Iowa Code Section 400.18(1).
13. The totality of Ms. McClure’s misconduct, including her untruthfulness in her
July 26, 2024 pre-disciplinary hearing about the July 12, 2024, email she sent
to an employee establishes that Ms. McClure has caused irreparable damage to
the employee/employer relationship; has eroded the trust I must have in the
person holding the Emergency Communication Supervisor’s position; and has
repeatedly and consistently exercised poor judgment and disregard for the
City’s values, policies and standard operating procedures.
/s/ Geoff Huff
Geoff Huff
Chief of Police
City of Ames