You Have Some Explaining to Do, Mr. Mayor.
In Jeffersontown, Kentucky, Public Works Director, Joseph McMillan, was fired last week after being arrested for possession of crack cocaine. The arrest prompted the city council to take action and last night they voted unanimously to establish random drug testing for all city employees. The city council is also going to meet later this week to discuss implementing background checks on all employees.
McMillan was hired in January of this year by the Jeffersontown's mayor, Clay Foreman. The job application for the city does not ask if applicants have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. McMillan was already on probation for charges of DUI and criminal mischief when he was hired, which would have been uncovered by a simple, quick background check.
Mayor Foreman has been friends with McMillan for years but claimed he did not know about his criminal record. He noted that McMillan possessed a commercial driver's license and had experience in his family's construction business. Foreman said he hired McMillan because his family had done lots of work for the city over the years, dating back to the 1980's.
It has since been discovered that McMillan has been arrested nine times since 1985. Mayor Foreman fired him last Friday.
McMillan was hired in January of this year by the Jeffersontown's mayor, Clay Foreman. The job application for the city does not ask if applicants have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. McMillan was already on probation for charges of DUI and criminal mischief when he was hired, which would have been uncovered by a simple, quick background check.
Mayor Foreman has been friends with McMillan for years but claimed he did not know about his criminal record. He noted that McMillan possessed a commercial driver's license and had experience in his family's construction business. Foreman said he hired McMillan because his family had done lots of work for the city over the years, dating back to the 1980's.
It has since been discovered that McMillan has been arrested nine times since 1985. Mayor Foreman fired him last Friday.
Labels: employee background checks, employment background checks, employment screening
posted by JenWiehl at 2:34 PM
11 Comments:
The Public Works Director should patch that "crack" - hahahahaha, I just couldn't help myself.
Just goes to show that someones character doesn't necessarily mean that they are trustworthy!
Hmmm, seems like the Bush Administration's penchant for Cronyism has spread far and wide.
Run a background check ALREADY!!!
Sounds like some serious favoritism bit the Mayor in his butt.
Between this guy and the Mayor of Detroit, what is the world coming to. Check these people out before they take public office.
My first thought is... what type of person even attempts to get a job of that importance while on probation? This fella must have had some confidence to even try.
Also, it reminds me of the DC Mayor that caught busted with crack and hookers... then re-elected. Some world we live in.
It seems a little strange that after your fifth or sixth time in prison that you still haven't learned to find new friends and/or hobbies. Nine times? That is just ridiculous.
Wow! Even when you think you know someone you may not know them at all. I bet a lot of people live double lives.
The gall! It's hard not to advocate for the background checking and drug testing of all public servants. Otherwise, how are we to be confident in the spending of our tax dollars?
Glad to see cronyism paid off for this mayor.
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