Editor:
You reported in last week’s Eagle testimony was given in court that I furnished copies of a personnel document to some members of last year’s Madison County Board of Supervisors and not others. That statement is absolutely untrue.
I did an assessment of Ernie Hoch’s performance as county administrator in a document to pass on to the new board for their use in a formal evaluation which his contract requires to be completed by March 31. I realized three members of the new board would have limited experience with him and felt my observations might be helpful. The members of the new board have to determine what weight, if any, my thoughts would carry. It should further be noted that only a sitting member of the board of supervisors has standing to make this type of entry into the administrator’s personnel file, thus the timing of my letter.
I furnished Mr. Hoch a copy of the letter on Dec. 10, 2013. (A sealed copy was placed in his personnel file that same day.) I advised Mr. Hoch at that time I would also furnish copies to the new board after they were seated and placed five copies in sealed envelopes. Those envelopes were secured in a safe in my home until they were personally handed by me to the Madison County Board of Supervisors members at the conclusion of their organizational meeting on Jan. 2, 2014.
No other member of the board of supervisors, nor any other person, was furnished a copy of my letter prior to that date. Anyone claiming otherwise is at best confused.