Vernon parts ways with troubled manager

Carlton accepts three months’ pay to walk away from job, By Jennifer Knocha Vernon — Even though her contract expires later this year, the Vernon Township Council unanimously voted to end its relationship with township manager Melinda Carlton at Thursday’s meeting. The action, which was cheered by the audience, came about after a number of requests for her resignation over the last few months from members of the public. Most notable among the calls for her ouster was the 24-point list of accusations submitted to the council by the Vernon Township Taxpayers Association. Among their allegations were improper use of municipal funds, inconsistencies in contracting and violations in state law on purchasing. Carlton later responded to their list point by point, in some cases admitting that she had acted improperly but also standing resolute that she had “absolutely no intention of resigning.” The details Although a resolution had to be passed to end her employment, it listed no reasons for her termination, and Carlton was not at the Council meeting Jan. 14 when it was made official. As per state law, Carlton will get at least three months pay and health benefits. Township Clerk Robin Kline has been named acting manager and will be paid $3,500 per month in addition to her regular salary. Calling it an “outstanding” move, Tom McClachrie of the Vernon Taxpayers Association, said that getting rid of Carlton is just a “first step” in cleaning up the township’s financial house. “This council apparently is going to listen to what some of the complaints of the taxpayers are and that is we’d like to get a better value for our dollar than what the former management was doing with it,” McClachrie said in a telephone interview this week. “It’s just amazing that public officials could just take the taxpayers’ money and just not account for how they’re expending those dollars.” A rocky past Carlton came into the position in November of 2007 and signed a three-year contract, with a salary of $133,000 per year. During her time in Vernon, the township hired a chief financial officer and an assistant township manager, and moved the township’s health department over to the county. It also instituted a four-day work week at town hall. This is not the first time that Carlton has left office under difficult circumstances. In 2001, she was fired by Marion County, Oregon, after a year in office. In a lawsuit filed by Carlton, against that county, she accused the county of gender discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and wrongful discharge. The county, however, in its legal filings, stated that it had fired her for lack of communication with the board and various other performance deficiencies. In 2004, all charges against Marion County were dismissed. In Vernon, Carlton was hired after the resignation of Don Teolis, who was later convicted of assaulting his wife and defrauding the town. In July 2008, Teolis was sentenced to five years in prison but was released on parole after serving nine months.

The taxpayers association views the resignation of Melinda Carlton as a step forward in accountability at the town hall. But it’s only a step. It has to be followed up. I think this council, with this step...is going to stand up and make some tough decisions and there are some tough decisions to come as we start to look at the budget.”
Tom McClachrie Vernon Taxpayers Association