Jefferson County Is on the Brink of Shedding Personnel Consent Decree
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
U.S. District Court Judge Lynwood Smith wished Tony Petelos a happy Halloween, one in which he would get more treats than tricks.
But the Jefferson County manager had already gotten a big treat when he heard Smith say that Jefferson County is “teetering on the edge” of being able to conclude the consent decree on personnel practices that has hovered over it for nearly 40 years. And it was a treat he was glad to get.
“Absolutely,” Petelos said after the status hearing this morning. “It’s been almost four decades, this consent decree, and we’re very close to bringing it to an end. It’s very positive. We’re very excited. Four decades is a long time.”
The county has been under the consent decree since 1982, after plaintiffs sued alleging that the county and other defendants had been discriminating based on race and sex with respect to recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion, discipline and other terms and conditions of employment.
Joseph J. Sperber IV, an attorney with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, opened the proceeding by saying that he had not expected the consent decree to continue beyond the end of the year. He added, however, that the vacancy in Jefferson County’s human resource department director’s position pushes back that resolution.
Sperber said he had hoped a new HR director could be in place this year. Jefferson County attorney Theo Lawson assured the court a candidate has been hired, but that candidate is working through an exit from current employment. The name of the new HR director was not disclosed.
During the hearing, it was initially suggested that the new HR director could be acclimated to the position within 60 days. Smith said 60 days was “ambitious” and offered 90 days as a more realistic target. He was told that the candidate had not previously worked in the public sector.
Smith said that candidate’s entry into a merit system makes for a “daunting learning curve.” He said Loren Oliver is the “best option” for guiding the new HR director. Oliver was assigned to monitor Jefferson County’s hiring practices. He previously was appointed as a receiver.
“You need to be a tutor now,” Smith told Oliver. The judge also urged attorneys for each side to communicate with one another as they work toward an end to the consent decree by mid-2020, “the sooner the better.”
“Getting it right is best worked out collaborately,” he said.
Trump says he doesn’t know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he's directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of "tremendous interest."
Trump warns of ‘bad things’ if Iran doesn’t make a deal, as second U.S. carrier nears Mideast
Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East.
Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star and ALS awareness advocate, dies at 53
Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53.
Venezuela approves amnesty that may release of hundreds detained for political reasons
Venezuela's acting president has signed into law an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others. The approval marks a stark turn for the nation.
In a historic vote, Tennessee Volkswagen workers get their first union contract
Two years ago, the successful union drive at this plant was expected to spark victories throughout the South. But now, as members vote to make their contract official, momentum has fizzled.
NASA chief blasts Boeing, space agency for failed Starliner astronaut mission
NASA's Jared Isaacman slammed Boeing for failures with its Starliner spacecraft, which was deemed unsafe to return its crew of two astronauts from the International Space Station
