The City of Tallahassee fired its director of human resources and workforce development, Ellen Blair, on Friday. Blair had recommended that a police officer who tested positive for Adderall be fired -- opposing the city manager, Reese Goad.
The city of Tallahassee fired its human resources director Friday. Ellen Blair had recommended that a police officer who tested positive for Adderall be fired.
Blair says city management let her go "without notice or explanation" after 10 years on the job. Her firing followed a contentious city commission meeting Wednesday night. An argument broke out among commissioners and City Manager Goad over the handling of the officer who failed the drug test.
During that meeting, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow asked why the officer got to keep his job when 21 other city employees had been fired for their drug use. Blair, as head of HR, had pushed for the officer to be fired as well.
Instead, she was fired on Friday. She said, "I am concerned about the message this action by the city sends to the many city employees who every day do their jobs with integrity and make difficult decisions in the best interests of the city and the people of Tallahassee."
Ellen Blair's statement:
"I can confirm that city management let me go this morning without notice or explanation. For nearly 10 years as HR director, I have done right by the city of Tallahassee, and have performed my duties with the utmost care, honesty and integrity. I believe that my termination was in retaliation for certain reports made to city officials. I am concerned about the message this action by the city sends to the many city employees who everyday do their jobs with integrity and make difficult decisions in the best interests of the city and the citizens of Tallahassee."
