Longtime county official retires

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

Clark County facilities manager Bill Barrett accepted a retirement package late Wednesday in the midst of a state ethics investigation and a federal Environmental Protection Agency probe.

Barrett will remain on the county's payroll for two weeks, but was reportedly cleaning out his office early today.

"He met with management last night and chose to accept the voluntary separation program," Clark County spokesman Doug Bradford confirmed this morning. "It was an amicable situation; he chose to take it for his own reasons."

Barrett was reached for comment twice this morning and hung up the phone each time. His attorney, Richard Segerblom, is out of town.

Barrett, who has been employed by the county for nearly two decades, made a surprise appearance before the Clark County Commission during Tuesday's public comment period. He told the board he was being targeted by a commissioner and a top administrator.

"I have been singled out and have been the subject of retaliatory acts by an individual member of the commission," Barrett said. "Equally important, the retaliation has been initiated and supported by senior management at Clark County."

Although Barrett never named the individuals, county sources said he referred to Assistant County Manager Mike Alastuey and Commissioner Erin Kenny.

In an affidavit accompanying an ethics complaint against Kenny, Kenny was quoted by former county worker Gene Smith as saying she believed Barrett moved Commissioner Mary Kincaid's flower shop on county time using government vehicles. Kenny said she also was aware of ongoing problems in Barrett's division and had once tried to get him fired, the Smith's affidavit says.

Barrett also has been admonished repeatedly for campaigning for Kincaid while on duty. During last year's campaign season, Barrett was videotaped getting into his county vehicle wearing a Kincaid T-shirt.

As a result of comments made in the affidavit, the state Ethics Commission is considering filing a formal complaint against Barrett and Kincaid.

Barrett's division also has been the focal point of an EPA investigation into missing refrigerant. The facilities division years ago was directed to improve its Freon record-keeping practices, but a recent internal audit cited the same problems.

If the EPA proves the county willfully neglected its record-keeping, the county can be fined up to $25,000 a day for the past two years.

Alastuey met with Barrett last week and, county sources said, Barrett was given the choice of being terminated or accepting a separation package. Shortly after the meeting, the county received a letter from Barrett's attorney.

Segerblom said Barrett's political activities took place on his own time and to fire him because of his involvement in campaigns would violate his First Amendment right to political expression.

Segerblom also called the timing of Barrett's proposed termination "extremely suspect" and said Barrett is not responsible for the problems the EPA is investigating.

"To terminate him under a cloud of suspicion would implicate his liberty interest, thereby entitling Mr. Barrett to a full and fair due process name-clearing hearing," Segerblom said.