On the morning of May 23, many of the staff at Clark County Animal Control said they weren’t feeling well.
Paul Scarpelli, the longtime manager of animal control, had just been abruptly fired and was walked off the premises in front of his staff. On that morning, three members of his former staff called in sick.
County documents show that instead of heading home, they went to Elmer’s Restaurant on East Mill Plain Boulevard. There they were joined by other co-workers and Scarpelli. There they commiserated his firing over a meal that included Bloody Marys, Coors Light and other alcoholic beverages.
Three weeks later, three animal control officers, as well as a code enforcement officer and two office staff, had been fired after a county Human Resources investigation determined that the gathering at Elmer’s violated multiple employee policies.
Earlier this month, members of the animal welfare community expressed alarm over the sudden dismissal of Scarpelli and the number of animal control officers being reduced from five to two before the Fourth of July, a particularly busy time for animal control. The county has described the situation as an “unexpected, temporary reduction” in animal protection service levels.
Seventy-four pages of documents obtained by The Columbian through a public records request show that these employees were terminated for either abusing Clark County’s leave policies or for brunching and drinking on county time and later trying to cover it up.
The offenses are similar to the one that cost Scarpelli his job. Clark County fired Scarpelli for having a beer while discussing county business at a Vancouver restaurant. But Scarpelli said he had clocked off the job and announced he wasn’t working.
Pat Vichas, chair of the Animal Protection and Control Advisory Board and speaking for herself, said the remaining officers can only do so much and that it will take time to replace the officers who had specialized training. She questioned if the county’s response was proportionate.
“This kind of doesn’t seem like the crime and punishment fit together, that’s my personal opinion,” said Vichas.
On Monday, nearly a dozen former or current members of the Animal Protection and Control Advisory Board sent a letter to county officials asking for answers for the sudden dismissal of Scarpelli and his staff and the lack of plans to handle the situation.
Clark County Director of Community Development Mitch Nickolds, who oversees animal control, did not respond to a request for comment.
What happened
County documents show that while these employees were terminated for the unsanctioned meeting at Elmer’s, HR became aware of the gathering from a separate investigation into “unprofessional behavior and policy violations.” The documents don’t provide details.
On May 29, officers and staff at Clark County animal control received a memo from county HR alerting them of an investigation into an allegation of “unprofessional behavior and policy violations.” The memo states that HR received the report on April 24, a month before Scarpelli’s firing.
Records show that on May 30, animal control officers Bill Burrus and Trisha Kraff, code enforcement officer John Scukanec as well as office workers Poppy Marler and Adrienne Powers were placed on administrative leave.
On June 8, all the employees as well as Patrick Higbie, a code enforcement officer, received memos advising them that HR Director Kathleen Otto as well as Katina Lackey, an associate HR representative, wanted to meet to discuss allegations they had gone to Elmer’s the morning of May 23, violating county policies covering ethics and leave, as well as a union agreement covering work stoppage.
The memos made specific allegations against each employee, who admitted they were upset over Scarpelli’s firing and gave conflicting statements during the investigation regarding who drank alcohol during the gathering at Elmer’s. The memos state that the employees admitted they “were not honest” in their initial statements after they were presented with receipts from Elmer’s as well as surveillance video from the restaurant.
Marler admitted she was not honest about leaving work and that she consumed alcohol, discussed their manager’s firing and told the wait staff they were disgruntled about Scarpelli’s treatment.
Kraff, Burrus and Powers were faulted for leaving work under false pretenses, “exhibited behaviors in public that could have a negative reflection on the county” and creating a work stoppage, according to memos.
Scukanec’s memo states that he told investigators that he went to Elmer’s, but only stayed 10 or 15 minutes and didn’t recall if anyone was consuming alcohol. However, the investigation concluded that while he did not drink, he was at the bar for longer than 90 minutes and knew his co-workers were drinking, the memo states.
Finally, Higbie’s memo states he told investigators that he went to Elmer’s for his lunch at 10 a.m., but took 75 minutes rather than his scheduled hour. It also states that he violated confidentiality requirements by speculating about why other employees were on administrative leave and displayed his uniform vest in the bar.
Letters of remorse
During the investigation, each employee sent remorseful letters to management, touting their dedication. Scukanec’s letter attempted to clarify his statements during the investigation.
“These co-workers are not just my team, but have become my friends,” wrote Kraff. “It’s hard not to be friends when you spend more time with them than your family. Unfortunately, this led me to make a bad decision.”
“When Paul was walked out I let all the anger, frustration, anxiety and fear get the best of me,” wrote Powers, who also wrote that she was beside herself “with embarrassment and regret.”
On June 14, each was fired.
Former animal control employees named in documents either couldn’t be reached for comment or declined comment. But Marler said in a Facebook message that it made no sense for Nickolds to “decimate” animal control.
“Actions do have consequences and I’m saddened longevity, work ethic and genuine remorse by all involved didn’t merit disciplinary action more in line with a very human offense; caring for ones’ boss and co-workers,” she said.
Documents refer to Maureen Colvin, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 11. Colvin said the union was involved in representing the employees during the process but declined to comment on the outcome. However, she said one employee (she wouldn’t say who) has filed a grievance for wrongful termination.
