Treasurer fires deputy
By Susan Bromley
Brandon Twp.- Teresa Karsney knew she was getting the axe.
On the morning of Nov. 17, the former deputy treasurer told her boss, treasurer Linda Owen, that she felt she was going to be let go. Later that afternoon, she was.
Karsney says Owen never gave her a reason, only a letter, which states in part, ‘It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I no longer wish to continue having you as my appointed official Deputy Treasurer of Brandon Township. It is for the best interest so the township is adequately served and the performance of the deputy’s statutory duties are filled completely.?
Karsney, however, believes the reasons are simple– three days prior, she requested a six-week medical leave. She had also spoken to Township Supervisor and Personnel Director Ron Lapp, an action she claims Owen had said undermined her office.
‘She asked me to resign because it wasn’t convenient for her for me to take the medical leave,? says Karsney, who needs gallbladder surgery, as well as a hysterectomy. ‘She said if I was only going to be out a week she’d keep me, but my doctors couldn’t guarantee only a week because they don’t know if they could do the gallbladder surgery laparascopically. She was trying to talk me into the one surgery so it was convenient for her. Legally, she can’t fire me if you check the Family Medical Leave Act. She will deny that’s why she fired me.?
Owen does deny that she terminated Karsney because of the medical leave request, saying, ‘The medical leave has nothing to do with the firing. It has to do with her fulfilling her statutory duties to the township. If she can’t perform those duties, she has to be let go. Who’s going to perform the duties of deputy treasurer if she’s not there? If Teresa has it all worked out perhaps she should be the treasurer. Because she’s not here, a lot.?
Karsney asserts she never took sick time she didn’t have coming.
Although Owen says the medical leave request had nothing to do with the termination, she mentioned Karsney’s request to Lapp and township board trustees Tom Stowell, Bob DeWitt and Charlene Carlson in a meeting she had with them to garner support for Karsney’s firing.
No vote was taken at that meeting. Stowell and DeWitt say they ‘understood? and ‘supported? Owen’s decision.
Lapp had a different viewpoint.
‘She didn’t ask my input when she hired, I won’t give input when she fires,? he said. ‘My support of that discharge only goes as far as the treasurer has the right to hire or fire at her whim. My contact with Teresa was always positive in nature. My contact was somewhat limited, but the contacts I did have, she was a pleasant person and from outward appearances seemed to be doing a credible job.?
Lapp says there was not much in Karsney’s personnel file, but Owen claims it was the items in there that prompted the firing, including poor attendance and insubordination, for Karsney ‘yelling and screaming? at her.
Karsney says the yelling and screaming did happen, on both sides, when Owen wanted her to attend a township meeting and Karsney went up north instead after her uncle was killed in a Labor Day weekend car accident.
‘I wanted to go to the viewing, because I knew she wouldn’t let me take off for the funeral and I got screamed and yelled at,? Karsney said. ‘She thought I should support her instead of my family.?
A letter from township attorney Stuart Cooney to Owen suggests the treasurer considered Karsney’s medical leave request when making a decision to terminate.
The letter reads, in part, ‘Dear Linda, You have notified me that your deputy has informed you that she wishes to take a Family Medical Leave. The expected duration of the leave is six weeks. You have asked my opinion as to the township’s obligation to the Deputy if any.?
The letter goes on to cite statute MCL 41.77 which provides that deputy treasurers are appointed by the treasurer and shall serve at the treasurer’s pleasure. Deputies assume treasurer’s duties in their absence.
In the letter, Cooney also writes, ‘Given the fact that the deputy will be unable to perform her statutory duties and there is no currently available alternative I believe you can legitimately exercise you (sic) statutory option to terminate and replace the deputy…?
Cooney concludes the letter by saying Owen had indicated Karsney has negative performance reviews and Owen has lost confidence in Karsney’s ability to perform her duties and that information should be included in her file.
Karsney is the second deputy treasurer to be terminated by Owen in as many years. Diane Reckwald was fired in Nov. 2003 after 12 years as deputy treasurer. Her replacement, Linda Cotton, quit in May 2004 after less than six months on the job.
Karsney was hired in June 2004 and says now she would have never taken the job if she’d read the newspapers first.
‘She threatened to fire us everyday,? says Karsney, who adds that she stayed because she got to the point where she didn’t want to give Owen the satisfaction of quitting. ‘You can’t even imagine the stuff she does. This is the third deputy in less than two years. It’s not a deputy problem.?