BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
LAWTEY— The City of Lawtey terminated Maintenance Supervisor Dale Herring during its July 5 meeting after the Department of Corrections revoked Herring’s certification to supervise inmates.
Council member Tim Mulkey made the motion to fire Herring, saying that if he could not supervise inmates, he could not fulfill his job duties.
Mulkey and Lawtey police said several residents complained about Herring being negligent while supervising inmates. They also cited complaints about maintenance work not being completed.
The measure passed 3-2, with Emily Hoffman and Debra Norman voting against it.
Norman said Herring’s employment issues should have been handled earlier and more professionally.
“I believe that everybody, no matter what, if we make a mistake, everybody should be given that option of a second chance,” Norman said. “If he needed to be retrained, if he was not doing something right when complaints started coming in, that’s when it should have been addressed, maybe several months ago instead of letting things just slide and escalate.”
Hoffman asserted that Mulkey exceeded his authority as a council member when he told Herring to turn in his keys.
“I was kind of shocked and all and surprised that you did call him,” Hoffman told Mulkey. “I feel you undermined me as a council person and the whole council by contacting him because you didn’t have the authority.”
Hoffman noted that as maintenance supervisor, Herring reported both to Hoffman because Hoffman oversees the city’s water and sewer system, and Mulkey, who is responsible for Lawtey’s streets and sanitation.
She added that upon learning that Herring could no longer supervise inmates, the council should have held an emergency meeting.
Hoffman also complained that Herring’s city personnel file had no negative comments about his job performance.
She added that she recently learned that Lawtey City Clerk Lisa Harley’s husband was the person who complained to Lawtey Correctional Institution management about Herring’s supervision of inmates. Hoffman said those complaints led to FDC revoking Herring’s authorization to supervise them.
“That was never brought up,” Hoffman said.
“I don’t control my husband,” Harley replied.
