By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
tribune staff writer
KEYSER — Keyser officials do not expect to render a decision anytime soon on an appeal filed by a former employee who is contesting his dismissal for alleged misconduct at the city’s sewage treatment plant.
City Administrator Deborah Pamepinto, who heard the closed-door appeal by former employee Jeremy Miner Wednesday afternoon, said she plans to take her time in considering the matter.
“There was no decision made Wednesday,” she said. “It’s being taken under consideration. We told Jeremy there was a lot to look at and consider here.”
Miner and Sewage Treatment Plant Supervisor Jim Hoffman were fired on March 20, one week after city officials seized computers and records at the sewage treatment plant as part of an investigation into possible misconduct.
Hoffman and Miner are accused of using city facilities and supplies to conduct their private business, J&J Environmental Services, which allegedly tested water
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samples provided by other municipalities and water companies, some of which thought they were still doing business with the city of Keyser. The towns were told to pay in cash, but no record of such payments appears on city ledgers, city officials said.
The city of Keyser provides an in-house appeal process for terminated employees, with the appeal conducted by the city administrator.
Hoffman did not appear for his appeal hearing. City officials announced Wednesday that he is suing the city over his dismissal. An initial hearing is set for 9 a.m. April 15 in Mineral County Circuit Court.
Pamepinto conducted Wednesday's appeal of Miner's dismissal with City Attorney John Athey. Also in attendance for the city was Susan Snowden, a Martinsburg attorney who specializes in labor law. She was retained to provide additional expertise as the city navigates uncharted waters on the matter.
“We’ve never had this happen before,” Pamepinto said. “There's no precedent to follow, and we felt we needed additional guidance.”
City officials initially said Miner's appeal would be conducted in open session, with a 2 p.m. “special meeting” planned for the council meeting room. However, the appeal hearing was closed according to the Open Meetings Law as a personnel matter.
