Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 6, 1992 TAG: 9203060370
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Some elected supervisors say the situation has gotten so bad that something has to be done right away. "We've got too much to do to be squabbling between employees," said Boone District representative Homer Murray.
"We're going to get to the bottom of it," said board Chairman Gus Forry.
The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a closed session Monday night to discuss an unspecified personnel issue. It's unclear what the agenda will include.
In an interview Thursday morning, Lester said he was at a loss to explain the internal politics that have marked his six-month tenure.
"It's gotten distorted and out of hand, and I'm trying to put it back in the proper perspective," he said.
"If it's me, I've got to go. But I sure would like an opportunity to get everyone pulling together."
Later in the day, Lester said he would resign if an article about the situation were published before Monday.
"If you print that article, I'll fax you my resignation. I don't have any choice."
Thirty minutes later, Lester called back to say he had changed his mind.
"I wouldn't quit now for anything. I may get run off, and if so, so be it. But as long as I'm here I'm going to do what I feel is in the best interest of Franklin County."
Laying blame for the dissension is difficult. Employees fear their jobs could be in jeopardy if they speak out and supervisors are reluctant to air personnel matters in public.
Two possible causes are:
County employees began taking sides last fall after Lester triggered a criminal investigation aimed at Public Safety Director David Laurrell.
Some department heads - frustrated by what they say is poor communication and lack of support - have begun to bypass Lester and talk directly with a few supervisors.
Wayne Angell, the Blackwater District supervisor, said it was time for the board to find what's wrong and fix it.
"Anytime you have a new administration, you have a change in focus," Angell said. "Sometimes it takes a while for things to run as smoothly as they had before."
The problems started in July, after then-County Administrator Richard Huff II resigned to take a job with Albemarle County.
Lester, who had been Huff's assistant for six years, was named acting administrator until the board could find a permanent replacement.
The two leading in-house candidates were Lester and Laurrell, whose styles could not be more different. Lester, 50, is laid back and informal; Laurrell, 36, is hard-charging and aggressive.
The job went to Lester because of what some supervisors believed were his better public-relations skills.
Soon after he took over, Lester asked Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood to determine if any laws were broken in the way that Laurrell had been paid $1,500 a year in overtime since 1989.
The move backfired when Hapgood found no wrongdoing and word of the investigation reached supervisors, who had neither authorized nor approved the probe.
"I think that's a right long step to take without some authority from the board," Murray said.
Lester has no regrets about his decision to launch the inquiry without notifying the board - even though it could have been perceived that he had it in for Laurrell.
Lester said he wanted to determine whether a law had been broken and keep the matter confidential before he brought it to the supervisors' attention.
"I had no reason to be vindictive," Lester said. "I think the approach I took was right. It's unfortunate that [word of] it got outside the county courthouse. There are no secrets in the courthouse complex, and I should have known better."
Laurrell said the investigation drove a wedge in the county staff.
"It's unfortunate that John didn't look at me as an ally," Laurrell said. "But, instead, he saw me as an adversary."
The turmoil has not been limited to Laurrell.
Five employees - department heads and others - complain privately that Lester is often disorganized and gives employees little overall direction.
Other employees have only good things to say about Lester, though, particularly his willingness to delegate authority.
Lester acknowledged that his first six months have been "a difficult time." He said the in-house fighting has taken a toll on his time and energy. As a result, Lester said, he has had little time for long-range planning or even to prepare fully for monthly supervisor meetings.
When asked to assess his first six months, Lester laughed.
"Just record `laughter,' " he said. "That's all you need. It says it all. You can interpret it any way you want."
by CNB