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Dean fired for job abandonment, but city places ad while Dean still on the job
by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, 8 Oct. 11:30 a.m.
Coatesville City Finance Director Ricky Dean was fired for job abandonment on Thursday, but efforts to remove Dean began weeks before he suffered injuries in a Sept. 8 auto accident that reportedly prevented him from immediately returning to work. The ChesterCountyReporter.com has learned that on Aug. 26, two weeks before Dean was to miss work, the city called into the website MonsterJobs.com and placed a $770 ad for a city finance director. Payment of the ad was approved by the Niki Oxendine, the city's human resource director. Under the heading of VP/Director of Finance, Coatesville, the ad reads: "Highly responsible financial and administrative position responsible for the financial records of the city." Council Vice President Kareem Johnson yesterday said that only "very recently" was he made aware of the ad on MonsterJobs.com. The Aug. 26 placement of the ad, said Johnson, doesn't fit with the idea Dean was fired for job abandonment. And as of yesterday afternoon Johnson wasn't aware that Donald McKenzie was working in the finance department. "I heard that someone was in that position, but I have heard no details," said Johnson. Council Member Ed Simpson and Johnson both said that they first became aware of Dean's firing in the media. It was only after that, said Simpson, that Council President Karen Jorgenson sent an e-mail to council members saying Dean had been fired. "I have yet to be told why," Simpson said yesterday. However, he said the e-mail alluded to missing work without reporting off." Said Johnson: "I'm not happy with how it is being handled. Council was never given the opportunity to weigh in on the decision making process." Dean's firing comes at a time the city is experiencing budget problems. City Manager Harry Walker, in an interview following the Sept. 22 council meeting, confirmed a hiring freeze was in place, citing budget problems. He said the police and fire departments were excluded from the hiring freeze. The hiring freeze was first mentioned publicly when District Attorney Joe Carroll questioned Police Chief William Matthews at an August public forum on violence if it was true the city had imposed a hiring freeze. "Not for the police department," said Matthews. And at the Sept. 22 council meeting Simpson questioned Walker whether there was a hiring freeze and would it prevent filling a new, full-time position in the fire department. Walker responded the fire department was excluded. Dean's firing comes at the time the city is beginning to prepare next year's budget and is likely to experience a budget shortfall this year. Last year the city was able to approve a balanced budget only because it projected $1.3 million from the sale of the Conti property and $600,000 in building permit fees. Both, so far, have failed to materialize. Dean last reported to work on Sept. 8. That night, following a city council meeting, he was injured in an auto accident en-route to his home. "I expect an exciting executive session Monday night," said Johnson. Council next meets Oct. 13. A closed-door executive session normally proceeds the public meeting.
You can e-mail Allen Davis at: allen@chestercountyreporter.com