Editor, Gazette-Journal:
The Gloucester Board of Supervisors’ recent action to dismiss County Administrator Carol Steele in the manner chosen was unjust and not necessary.
It is understood that boards have the authority to hire/fire at will and changes in leadership and direction is a board’s prerogative. That said, how a board makes this major community-altering change (hopefully in a professional and respectful manner) is extremely important.
The four members who abruptly ended the career of a dedicated public servant in such an unprofessional and disrespectful way was “just wrong” on so many levels.
By not working with Ms. Steele to allow her to tender her resignation with respect for all involved (including the board) and allow for the proper transfer of duties, the cost to Gloucester is significant. To name a few: departure of the key leader in the middle of an annual budget process; loss of a smooth transition for onboarding and continuity of ongoing projects/initiatives; unnecessary and wasted time/effort to address the emotional toll (anger and mistrust) of employees and community members; unnecessary financial cost for contractual severance pay (taxpayers’ money) which would better have been used for other essential needs; and loss of respect for, and trust in, the board members who voted for this action.
While I’m sure Ms. Steele has her critics, as assertive/strong leaders do, it is difficult not to acknowledge her extensive list of accomplishments and substantial impacts she made in Gloucester. She deserved to be honored and thanked—even if the board desired a change. To end her almost 40-year Gloucester career in such an unworthy way (when there were better options) was unconscionable.
This action brings back the nightmare of a previous dedicated administrator who was blindsided after midnight and dismissed the next day—again unnecessarily. The detrimental impact to the employees and the community reverberated for years.
Please do better this time around.
Christi Lewis
36-year retired county employee
Hartfield, Va.