NG Covers Palazzolo Firing

regarding Deedrich, Curt, Don't you think the board had to pay him $100k in lost salary and DAMAGES because their lawyer told them they were going to get their butts sued off for following the "legal arguments" of scholars like you, Gordy?

exactly - -the "whistle-blower" should have reported some of these problems more than a year ago

"One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing."

Socrates

Regardless of what Vito may or may not have done it is important to remain focused on the fact that this situation came about by the malfeasance of the CU Public Health District Board.     The question needs to be asked, who performed the refence checks on Vito.......did they not happen to take a few minutes to google his name and Ottawa Michigan?   Had they done this, a wealth of information would have been at their fingertips and they most likely would have continued looking on.

This board however; obviously did not take the time to do this, or perhaps they were to excited at the prospect of getting an adminstrator in position that would control the employees better and make them more subserviant to the musings of the board.  (It should be noted that at the time of Dave King's departure from this organization, an unrealistic time frame was placed on finding an adminsitrator in a hurry because the board could not be bothered with the day to day operations of the agency:)  Vito's spending habits should have been flagged by a review of finances by the board.    The large purchases, especially the heavy credit card usage would have shown had they taken the time look - THEY DID NOT!  It was no secret within the agency that Vito was trying to find a job within for his girlfriend......why did the board not know? - after all,  Vito was introduced by a very prominant district employee to this lady.   This action alone should have resulted in his termination.

When questioned about authority, the board answered that they are the final stop, and that they answer to nobody.    They need to be accountable to the public just as their administrator is.    Where was the media when the board spent hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars stropping a unionization attempt by the employees?   The media never took the time to ask the employees, had they, they would have learned that it was attempted in an effort to create a productive workplace, with accountability to the public and the employees.   On the topic of improper termination of employee's what did Vito do wrong?     The board summarily terminated 2 dental hygienists a few years ago do to a "lack of work" during the unionizatuib attempt.    The reality of that situation was that the 2 hygienists were heavily involved in the unionization effort and their termination was done as a threat to all employees.    At the time, when CUPHD had no dentist on staff,  Lisa Bell of the Champaign County Dental Access Program had made volunteer arrangements to have guest dentists come in and screen patients for care that could have been provided by the staff CUPHD over a period of six months but the board would not accept the proposal......they wanted to make a point.

I could go on endlessly.    As Ms. Scott has stated, the real issues lie with the board of health.     I would propose that if these three individuals truly believed in the mission of Public Health and community service that they should work with the Champaign County Board to place a referendum on the ballot asking the citizens to disolve the CU-Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department and then reform under one organization with a legitimate board of health professionals.    At the very least, Carol Elliot should resign from public service since she is the only remaining tie to previous problems with the the CUPHD board and the current members.

Anonymous 1:46, you want to fire Carol Elliott and keep Linda Abernethy?  Is that so she can bring the same kind of fiscal responsibility to the CUPHD that she has to the City of Champaign Township?  And where has Pius Weible been the last 90 days?  There is more to this story than has come out so far.  Is it going to come out or be covered up?

Anonymous,

Are you actually suggesting that she intentionally kept information from the board and then turned around and blew the whistle on herself and Vito?

Do you have any specific evidence that the whistleblower was complicit in the malfeasance, or do you just have an axe to grind?  So far, despite opportunities to do so, no one from either CUPHD or the board has produced any evidence that she did.  Perhaps you should go to the police to report what you know.

I am told that there are supposed to be annual audits at the CUPHD and there hasn't been one for several years.  I hope the News Gazette finds out why not.  Also,  the Board has a treasurer who co-signs, with the director, all checks.  Has the treasurer been looking at the backup he's supposed to get for the checks?  I'm also told the Board's attorney has been sleeping through meetings.  Is this a metaphor for how the Board has been performing its oversight function?

The CUPHD Board has a part-time Treasurer that reports directly to them that is supposed to review documentation and is one of two required signatures on checks.  The Director of Finance's interaction with the Board would be through the Treasurer.  Does anyone know whether or not the former Director of Finance tried to make the Treasurer aware of what was going on?  Perhaps she tried in vain and then decided to go directly to the Board.

Citation from News-Gazette article:

Asked why it had taken more than a year for the board to find out Palazzolo had been charging meals and Cafe Kopi or Stabucks beverages to the district, among other problems, Weibel answered, "That's a good question."

I expect Mr. Weibel, as a board member, should answer the question rather than just saying "That's a good question."  Taxpayers deserve a better response.

has anyone even notice the RECENTLY total remodel of his girlfriend's house?? better be checking out that credit card for home improvement purchases!!