.Breaking NewsZaleski’s attorney says firing timed to influence election ...Zaleski’s attorney says firing timed to influence election.By Frank Mulligan
Wicked Local Wareham
Posted Apr 08, 2011 @ 12:14 PM

   

WAREHAM — An attorney hired by former Town Accountant Elizabeth Zaleski said her firing was timed to influence the town election and wants a public hearing into the termination in which Selectman Cara Winslow would be called to testify.

Attorney John J. Clifford stated in a letter to be hand-delivered to town officials today that he would “require the opportunity to question Selectwoman Cara Winslow regarding her role in the termination, as she apparently called for Mrs. Zaleski’s termination prior to April 4.”

That was the date Town Administrator Mark Andrews sent Zaleski notice of her firing by certified mail.

He also issued a press release Monday, April 4, stating Zaleski was fired, “Because reconciliations were not being made by the town accountant in a timely manner, the auditors revealed an alleged material variance of $919,000 between the treasurer’s records and the general ledger as of June 30, 2010 according to the audit report.”

Winslow had called for Zaleski to be fired “and/or” Andrews to resign in a letter distributed to the media on Thursday, March 31, a day following the Finance Committee meeting.

“The timeline of events is really curious on this issue,” Clifford said.

He said Zaleski was being pressured to resign on Friday, and the decision was made to fire her Monday. The press release was issued before she received the notification she was being fired, Clifford said.

She has the right to request a public hearing under the charter.

While Clifford said they would exercise it, he questioned whether Zaleski would get a fair hearing since the decision had already been made.

“Effectively, there can’t be any due process once they’ve decided to terminate her.”

Knowing that she was entitled to a hearing, Clifford pointed to the timing of the Monday press release. “What was the urgency there? The urgency obviously was there was an election to take place the next day.”

He said, “I think the people of the town of Wareham would be surprised to find out – at least according to the town charter – Mrs. Zaleski hasn’t been fired” officially since her hearing has yet to be held.

But, he noted, he had discussed the issue with Town Counsel Rich Bowen and Zaleski cannot report back to the office pending a hearing’s outcome.

Clifford added she was fired on the basis of a “draft management” report and should have been allowed a chance to respond.

Instead, he said, “Apparently, the day after the draft audit came out, Mrs. Zaleski was locked out of the computer system and a day or two later she was fired. Clearly, she had no opportunity to respond to the draft management letter.”

And, he also touched on the reconciliation issue.

“Reconciliation can’t be performed by one person. It requires the cooperation of other officials. It can’t be laid at the feet of one person.”

He said they would pursue all legal avenues. “They have fired my client without due process with over a year left in her contract. They have attempted to ruin her reputation.”
..

Read more: Zaleski’s attorney says firing timed to influence election - Wareham, MA - Wicked Local Wareham http://www.wickedlocal.com/wareham/arch … z1Ix9MyDPu