teachers, technology mix it up - InMaricopa.com

RE-ELECT COUNCILMAN MARVIN BROWN
LEADERSHIP ★ INTEGRITY ★ EXPERIENCE
MY PRIORITIES:
1. Economic development
2. Good government
3. Public safety
4. Transportation
(520) 868-6111
★ Ak-Chin and Gila River Indian Communities Liaison
★ Maricopa Economic Development Alliance Board Member
★ National League of Cities Economic Development Committee Member
★ Pinal County Crime Victims Board Member
★ Pinal County Water Augmentation Board Member
Endorsed by Professional Firefi ghters of Arizona
Paid for by Marvin Brown for City Council
6InMaricopa.com NEWS InMaricopa.com
March 2012
NEWS BRIEFS
eckhardt to have closed Merit
board hearing March 8
A Merit Board hearing for Maricopa
Police Lt. Larry Eckhardt is scheduled
for March 8.
Eckhardt was placed on paid
administrative leave July 22 and then
sent back to work in the Criminal
Investigations Division by then-
Interim Police Chief Steven Stahl in
November.
Stahl said in November it was a
better use of taxpayer dollars to have
Eckhardt at work than sitting at home.
City spokeswoman LaTricia Woods
said Eckhardt has requested a closed
hearing, so it will not be open to the
public.
McDonald loses
civil suit against city
Former Community Services
Director Marty McDonald’s civil
lawsuit against the city ended Feb. 28
in favor of the city. McDonald claimed
negligence, malicious prosecution
and intentional infliction of emotional
distress.
A Pinal County
Superior Court
judge granted the
city’s motion for a
directed verdict,
which means after
hearing all evidence
presented
Marty McDonald
by McDonald, he failed to bring forth
enough evidence to establish a claim.
McDonald was placed on
administrative leave in May 2009,
one day before being indicted on
two felony charges stemming from
the alleged misuse of a city FedEx
shipping discount. He was terminated
in August 2009.
Those charges were dropped when
McDonald produced an email showing
he requested his personal FedEx
account be removed from the city’s
prior to placing his shipping order.
vital records available at
Maricopa health clinic
Pinal County Public Health has
relocated its Vital Records office
to the new Public Health Clinic in
Maricopa, 41600 W. Smith-Enke
Road, Building 15.
Certified copies of birth and death
certificates are available in Maricopa
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through
Friday. Certified copies are $20 each.
Amendments/Corrections/Establishment
of paternity is a $30 fee,
which includes one certified copy of
the amended certificate.
866-960-0633
PinalCountyaZ.gov/Departments/
PublicHealth
Judge sends Stant
firing back to Merit board
A Pinal County Superior Court
judge ruled in February the city
may have violated former Maricopa
Police Sgt. Aki Stant’s constitutional
right to have representation during
interviews with Internal Affairs
Investigator Mike Burns, and Stant’s
termination should be remanded to
the Merit Board before the court can
proceed with his $1.5 million lawsuit
against the city.
Stant was fired by the city in June
2010 for failing to answer questions
during an internal investigation. His
termination was upheld by the Merit
Board and then-City Manager Kevin
Evans.
Stant and his attorney, James
Cool, claimed Stant’s due process
rights were violated when he failed to
comply with an investigation into the
actions of one of his subordinates.
Then-Police Chief Kirk Fitch said
at Stant’s Merit Board hearing Stant’s
failure to comply was grounds for
termination.
Cool asserted that during Stant’s
second interview with Burns, the
investigation had turned into one
against his client for failure to answer
questions, but Stant was not made
aware his job was in jeopardy or
permitted to have a representative.