NEWTON COUNTY — Simply over two weeks after a tumultuous Thursday at Newton County headquarters, Amanda Shoemaker is talking out.
Shoemaker’s employment as Newton County’s human sources director was one of many subjects of dialog at a closed-doors government session on Thursday, Could 29. The assembly resulted in a agency affirmation that Shoemaker can be positioned on paid administrative depart.
In a Fb put up on June 6, Shoemaker stated she was initially fired by performing county supervisor James Brown — her direct supervisor in response to the county constitution — on April 29. Whereas Shoemaker didn’t elaborate on why she was terminated, a number of sources instructed The Covington Information beforehand that there have been issues of low morale throughout the county ranks.
Nonetheless, Shoemaker returned to work on Could 29 following orders from Newton County Interim Chair Linda Hays. Shoemaker famous in her Fb put up that she was given a chance to attraction the case earlier than Hays.
“The dismissal letter issued to me by Appearing County Supervisor James Brown indicated I had a proper to attraction the dismissal determination to Interim Chair Hays,” Shoemaker wrote.
Shoemaker hooked up a letter in her Fb put up that gave the impression to be signed by Hays that known as for her fast reinstatement. Hays alleged within the letter that Brown didn’t comply with the procedures in Part 808 of the Newton County worker handbook, which offers with terminations.
One of many alleged coverage procedures cited in Hays’ letter was a failure to schedule a pre-dismissal convention. Workers topic to termination usually undergo a pre-dismissal convention. That convention is initiated following a dialog with the relevant division director and the human sources director, in response to the part.
An emergency dismissal will be instituted to “defend the fast security and safety of staff.” Nevertheless, that course of should additionally undergo the human sources director.
There isn’t any listed protocol in part 808 that determines the right way to deal with any terminations pertaining to the county’s human sources director.
In accordance with Hays’ letter, Shoemaker and the interim chair met on Could 18 for an attraction listening to. Newton County beforehand employed E. Logan Butler in January 2024 as its personnel listening to officer. County lawyer Patrick Jaugstetter stated on the time that Butler would oversee all appeals for terminations.
“The Newton County employment personnel coverage has a provision… that enables any worker who’s terminated or suffers antagonistic employment motion to hunt an attraction,” Jaugsetter stated in January 2024. “That attraction goes to a personnel listening to officer.”
It isn’t clear why Hays oversaw the attraction course of as a substitute of Butler. Regardless, Hays signed off on Shoemaker’s reinstatement, with orders that she return to work and be paid in backwages relationship again to April 29.
A particular known as assembly was held by the Newton County Board of Commissioners hours after Shoemaker’s return. On the assembly, Sheriff Ezell Brown ordered over 60 deputies on account of “authentic security issues,” one thing that had been pushed again by District 5 Commissioner LeAnne Lengthy.
It was decided that Shoemaker would stay on paid administrative depart whereas a everlasting resolution was reached.
