Tempers flared at a special meeting of the Maysville Board of Trustees last week as trustees exchanged harsh words over the resignation of Maysville town clerk-treasurer Sandra Albright and supervisor changes in the town’s maintenance department. Albright, who was also employed as the town’s office manager, submitted her letter of resignation to trustees May 1.
The letter, supplied to the News Star by Albright, reads in part: “During my employment with the Town of Maysville I have worked with many different trustees and have always been respected and trusted and have completed my job duties in a manner that I was proud of. However, during the last several months, I have been repeatedly questioned, accused, and treated with disrespect. There have been constant interruptions and procedural changes that have been very disruptive to the day-to-day operation of the office. I am unable to continue to work in this stressful situation.” The letter stated Albright’s last day would be May 12.
During a special meeting May 3, the Board of Trustees initially entertained an item to accept Albright’s resignation under the Town of Maysville agenda. Prior to the agenda item being addressed, town attorney Tyler Perryman advised the three board members present, Mayor Cindy White, Trustee Joe Couch and Trustee Janet Davis, he had
received an amended resignation from Albright earlier in the afternoon.
In the emailed amendment, also supplied to the News Star by Albright, she reiterated her original intent was to stay through May 12. “But by the actions of a portion of the Board of trustees, I was not allowed to complete the time. Therefore, I am giving my resignation ... to be effective at the close of business May 3.”
White made a motion to accept the resignation. White, Couch and Davis voted in favor of the motion. Trustees Anita Uhles and David Uhles joined the meeting shortly after the first vote. As the board took up an item to enter executive session to discuss employment items for multiple maintenance employees, White, David Uhles and Anita Uhles voted in favor of entering the executive session and Couch and Davis voted against it.
The board returned to regular session after about 10 minutes, and David Uhles made a motion to have David Steakley take over as head of the town’s maintenance department, a position held by Jason Dehart. White seconded the motion, and Uhles cast his yea vote, but was quickly interrupted by Trustee Couch, who oversees trash, sewer and water in his role as trustee. “No, no, that’s open for debate, and I’ve got a little to say on it,” Couch said. “I think the action the board is taking tonight on this is not only a slap in the face to Mr. Jason, who is a good employee, works hard, shows up, does everything I ask him, as opposed to some of the other ones that run straight to the mayor behind the backs of all. And the town putting up with it really disappoints me. I’m not saying a thing about David Steakley. David is a good employee. But to take him (Dehart) away and stick him (Steakley) there is wrong. That’s all I have to say.” Trustee Davis voiced her agreement with Couch. No explanation for the personnel change was given.
The vote on the motion resumed at that point, with David Uhles, Anita Uhles and White voting yes; Davis voting no and Couch voting, “Hell, no.”
When the board moved to the Maysville Municipal Authority agenda to vote on the same slate of items taken up in the Town of Maysville meeting, Trustee Couch expressed his displeasure with circumstances surrounding Albright’s resignation.
As David Uhles made a motion to accept the resignation and trustees began to cast their votes, Couch interrupted again.
“Just a second. That’s open for discussion,” Couch said.
He went on to say he thought the treatment given Albright in recent weeks was terrible, referencing memos he said were sent to Albright by Trustee Anita Uhles, who was designated by the board to oversee Maysville’s office and parks after her election as trustee in April.
The memos included instructions regarding office procedures that were to be implemented immediately.
“She didn’t come in there to inquire or to check, she just sent that nasty, condescending memo to Sandy. It embarrassed me! And you town people,” Couch said, addressing the audience in the room, “you’re just sitting back and letting this happen, and it’s all on you. It’s not our fault. You put us up here. Shame on you!”
Anita Uhles said she would like to speak on the item, as well, asking Couch what “nasty note,” he was referring to and whether he had read it.
A shouting match ensued, causing town attorney Tyler Perryman to step in and ask trustees to “keep it civil.”
“I have every memo up here that I sent to Sandra Albright. If any of you would like to read them, you are more than welcome to. What I addressed is things that you town people should be concerned about. It is concerning deposits. It is concerning money,” Anita Uhles said.
“Read it!” Couch said, at which point Perryman stepped in again.
“It is my advice that personnel matters not be discussed in open session,” Perryman said.
David Uhles said, “I can tell you that she (Albright) has been treated with respect the whole way through. She’s been asked to change some of her procedures, which is perfectly in our order to do that.”
Mayor White then took action to move the vote along. All trustees voted to accept the resignation, with Davis and Couch stating they were voting yes only because Albright has no desire to continue in her positions with the city.
In a much more docile emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees the following night, May 4, trustees voted 4-1 to appoint Kody Clouse as town clerk-treasurer, which is an elected position. Trustee Davis cast the lone no vote.
Clouse has served as Maysville’s utility clerk since the end of January.
At the outset of the May 4 emergency meeting, Mayor Cindy White specified the emergency meeting was necessary “so we can be able to meet payroll,” which is normally handled by the town treasurer.
According to Maysville’s ordinances, the town’s clerk-treasurer is an elected officer of the town and serves a four-year term. Albright won re-election unopposed in April.
Clouse will now fill the role of town clerk-treasurer until Maysville’s next regularly scheduled municipal election, which will be in the spring of 2025.