Fired Luzerne County 911 manager Ron Rome says he is contemplating taking legal action against the county for wrongful discharge and violating his right to due process.
Rome said he believes the county's investigation resulting in his termination was incomplete and relied too heavily on a report prepared by a few 911 staffers who had orchestrated a campaign for his removal, or others who supported former 911 Executive Director Norbert O'Donnell, who was also fired.
"The report is not factual," Rome said Tuesday. "In fact, the overwhelming majority of the report is based on opinions, rumors, innuendoes and speculation. There are portions of the report that are outright lies."
No county commissioners or managers interviewed him, he said.
"Yet they (commissioners) had no problem voting to terminate me, without knowing what I had to say about anything. This is unacceptable. In my case, my rights to due process were completely disregarded by individuals who swore to God to protect and preserve those rights."
The Kimberli Weiland firing adds another wrinkle.
Rome said he has grown increasingly suspicious of the county's handling of the April 2 termination of himself and two other 911 employees now that one of the key county managers who helped investigate and execute the firings -Human Resources Director Weiland - has been fired.
"I've been questioning the circumstances surrounding our terminations for two months now and have gotten nowhere in my search for answers," Rome said Tuesday. "Now we come to learn one of the principal architects behind our dismissals is an apparent fraud and liar."
Rome said he might bring legal action against the county for wrongful discharge and violating his right to due process.
Rome, 42, who was 911 quality assurance officer at the time of his firing, said his termination letter indicates a "thorough investigation was recently completed on activity reported in 911."
"It is obvious after observing the numerous problems at 911 that they are mainly due to a lack of sufficient skills with your position," the letter reads. "Due to the severity of the issues identified in the investigation, your employment with Luzerne County as quality assurance officer is terminated effective immediately."
The letter concludes by directing Rome to contact Weiland with any questions.
Rome says he pressed Weiland for concrete reasons for his firing when she delivered the letter, accompanied by county Budget/Finance Chief Sam Diaz and a deputy sheriff.
"Sitting only four feet across from me, in my living room, Weiland could only shrug her shoulders when I asked her for specific details on 'the thorough investigation' and issues that were 'exposed' as a result of this investigation and allegedly cost me my job," Rome said.
Weiland's "canned response," according to Rome, was: "It's all in the letter. It's all right there."
Weiland "finally admitted she did not know specifically why he was terminated," Rome said.
Rome said he was also surprised Weiland didn't bring him a second copy of the letter for his files, so he had to make one using his personal computer printer.
"This was my first and only encounter with Kimberli Weiland. It was abundantly clear to me then that there was something wrong with her performance and abilities."
Rome defended his record at 911.
"Over the course of my eight years with Luzerne County 911, I always worked to the best of my abilities to complete my tasks and assignments, as well as any tasks or assignments I was asked or directed to assist with.p
"This is about principle. It's about doing what's right and clearing my good name and letting people know I wasn't terminated for 'performance-related issues' as they want people to believe; that I was fired because I supported my director and his operational policies and philosophies because he was the boss and I was a loyal employee."
Rome said other county managers should "take note of what happened to us."
"It seems some of our elected county and appointed officials seem to favor comfort over competence and aren't as interested in the truth as much as they're interested in quieting the frustrated and disgruntled."
Commissioners have said the county's investigation of problems at 911 was thorough and impartial. Commissioners and other county officials have said they interviewed numerous employees and found evidence of preferential treatment and poor morale.
County Chief Clerk/Legislation Manager Sam Guesto said the written explanation of termination provided an explanation, and invited Rome to contact county Solicitor Jim Blaum with further questions.
