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Two city employees blamed for cemetery fiasco |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Tuesday, 09 August 2005 |
August 9, 2005
By TODD KLEFFMAN
Staff Writer
An investigation into the inappropriate handling of veteran's markers from Bellevue Cemetery last month places the blame on the shoulders of two Danville city employees, Public Works Director Tony Griffin and Cemetery Sexton Gerald Naylor.
City Manager Darrell Blenniss presented his report on the incident to the City Commission Monday night. The Commission took no formal action on the report, but did accept it and agreed to follow Blenniss' recommendations, which include possible disciplinary action against Naylor and Griffin, who made the decision to dispose of the markers in the landfill, Blenniss said.
"They were given clear direction to remove all items of value from the building. They reviewed the contents of the building and made the decision on what was to go to the landfill," Blenniss said today. "They weren't sure of the exact protocol to follow, but they knew there was a protocol. I interviewed them and they admitted to an error in judgment."
Neither Griffin nor Naylor could be reached for comment today.
Blenniss said any disciplinary action is at his discretion. Punishment could range from a written reprimand to suspension without pay, he said. Blenniss said he is reviewing other disciplinary actions taken by the city in the past before determining what action, if any, is appropriate.
After word got out on July 28 that about a dozen old bronze and granite veteran's markers from Bellevue had been ignominiously discarded at the landfill, veterans and other citizens were outraged, and city officials scrambled to make amends. Police Chief Jeff Peek officially apologized on behalf of the city two days later, but the issue has remained a sore spot.
According to a timeline Blenniss established in his investigation, the City Commission ordered at it's July 25 meeting that an old building at Bellevue be readied for demolition. The next day, City Engineer Earl Coffey told Naylor to "remove all contents of value from the building and dispose of any remaining items," the report states.
On July 27, Griffin and Naylor met at the building, looked at its contents and "agreed that several stones and bronze markers were to be sent to the landfill," the report said. Naylor then instructed workers to break the stones into smaller pieces and haul them to the landfill. Naylor then went on vacation until Aug. 1.
The next day, after a public outcry, city employees went back to the landfill, collected the markers and took them to the Public Works garage until it could be learned from veteran's groups and funeral directors how to dispose of them properly. On July 30, the remnants of the stone markers were crushed "beyond recognition" and the bronze markers were sent to Camp Nelson National Cemetery for proper disposal the next day. The city agreed to bear any cost of replacing and installing new markers.
Commission presented protocol for handling military markers
At Monday's meeting, local veteran Jack Hendricks presented the Commission with proper protocol for handling military markers, including information on how they are ordered, shipped, inscribed, placed, replaced and disposed of. Hendicks said that the city has recognized its error and reacted properly in fixing it and making sure it doesn't happen again.
"It was just a mistake of poor judgment and the city is bending over backwards to try to correct it," Hendricks said today.
"It was very, very bad judgment on the part of a couple of people, but it wasn't intentional. Even a lot of veterans didn't know the proper protocol, so you just have to blame ignorance."
Along with possible disciplinary action, Blenniss is also in the process of drafting a letter of apology that will be sent to each family affected and local veterans' groups. The city also will clarify its policies for dealing with veterans' markers and train city employees on the protocol.
And, as an extra gesture, the city has agreed to waive the cost of placing the markers on veterans' graves in the future. The city had charged families a $96 fee to set the markers, Blenniss said.
http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=15378&format=html |
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