Lawmakers appeal firing by county

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

Two Clark County employees fired for taking county pay and benefits while working at the Legislature have appealed their terminations, county officials said Tuesday.

Assembly members Kelvin Atkinson and Kathy McClain, both Democrats caught up in ongoing scrutiny of local government employees who served in the Legislature and received both state and local pay, were notified Friday that they were fired. County officials have said they had little choice but to fire them, but the pair have two more appeal steps before the decision is final.

"Each has appealed," county spokesman Erik Pappa said in a short statement Tuesday. "Separate hearings for each of them will be held before the end of next week."

The appeals had been expected from both.

The appeal hearings will be conducted by county human resources chief Raymond Visconti. During the hearings, Atkinson and McClain have the opportunity to present additional or mitigating information that could affect the decision to fire them.

Pappa said the time and place of the hearings are not being revealed because it involves a closed personnel issue. The county's follow-up decision could come days after the hearings, he said, and the pair have the option for yet another appeal.

"If it goes against them, they would have the option to go to an independent arbitrator," he said.

The three-step process is guaranteed in the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the local of the Service Employees International Union, which can represent both in the ongoing process. SEIU local political director Maryanne Salm declined any comment Tuesday.

Atkinson also declined comment. McClain did not return phone calls, but has declined comment over the course of the last several weeks.com