SHN Administrator terminated

5-5-05

by Nancy C. Butler

Editor's note: This is the first of two articles concerning the termination of Jay Kessinger Wednesday.

Shock, anger and disbelief are the reaction of the community, State Hospital North staff and the SHN Advisory Council to the news that without notice or prior reprimand that Administrator Jay Kessinger was terminated Wednesday by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare after 35 years at the facility.

Kessinger has been administrator for the last seven years.

Ken Deibert, administrator of the Division of Family and Community Services, met with Kessinger yesterday and gave him the choice of early retirement or termination. Based on principle, Kessinger said he chose termination.

Deibert met with the Advisory Council this morning during one of their regularly scheduled sessions. Several of the board members expressed anger and shock not only in the disregard shown for Kessinger in giving him an ultimatum without putting him on administrative leave and investigating the situation further, but also the disregard for board members some of whom found out while reading the newspaper this morning. A few of the board members received calls about the action, but only after the fact.

Deibert said that Health and Welfare Director Karl Kurtz had been informed before, during and after the termination. He said the action was taken because they "felt it was in the best long term interest of the facility." He also said he had interviewed three staff members on the clinic staff during a previous visit and had received calls about what he called a "continuing problem" at the facility. However citing privacy of personnel issues would not discuss specifics.

State Representative Kathy Skippen, a member of the council asked why Kessinger had not been put on leave and the matter investigated further. Deibert responded that after the interviews he had done, he did not feel there was any reason to investigate the issues further. She added that she had been on the council a long time and never felt that they had had to fight for an administrator before, but what happened, "is wrong".

Council Chairman George Enneking said he is very concerned that the council was not even given a "heads up". He had to read it in the newspaper. He continued by saying that he has more respect for Kessinger than the department at this point.

Former State Senator Marguerite McLaughlin, a council member, also expressed her anger and dismay. She said that she felt that Kessinger had been doing an excellent job and that the problem was solvable. As a business owner she felt that administrators and managers should be treated with more respect, especially when they had been loyal for years.

Orofino Mayor Joe Pippenger said the city has dealt with similar situations and it was better to put someone on administrative leave and investigate matters fully, not have someone gone with the snap of the fingers. Not going through the procedure can cost more.

Deibert said that administrators serve at the pleasure of the director of the department and ultimately the governor. As such they are different and exempt from the procedures normally taken with state employees. However, he said they did not take it lightly. "It is a matter of support. Not a popularity contest." He added that what the council was seeing was in a very short time frame and implied there were other matters.

McLaughlin responded that she had a problem with his answers. If Kessinger had been doing a poor job there should have been an administrative leave. She said she felt Deibert was giving them two answers.

Skippen facetiously said with the ambiguity of what happened Wednesday when the council was not even consulted, then why exist. If they have no input, why have a council. If it just because of code, maybe they should go to the legislature and have it changed.

McLaughlin reiterated the need for the council which was formed when there were threats of closing the facility. She feels the council is important because they can be involved with policy and watch over what is happening. She recognized the facetious nature of Skippen's prior comment on the importance of the council. However, she was really angry that a few council members were called, but she was not.

Deibert said he called those that he knew would be at the meeting. However, he did not explain what he based that knowledge on and at least half of those in attendance had not received word.

Earlier in the meeting, several of the members expressed a desire to have Kessinger come in to address the council and answer questions. Deibert said that would be up to Kessinger, but he would not answer any questions about personnel matters. At that point in the meeting, a motion was made to ask Kessinger to come to the meeting.

In the interim, the council discussed whether a part of the situation is wrapped around problems with hiring psychiatric physicians for state facilities in Idaho due to lower salaries and benefits than what the doctors are seeking.

Watch for part two concerning Kessinger's response to the situation in tomorrow's Window on the Clearwater.

Drop us an email and let us know what you think about the firing and we will put it on the "Letters" page. Email: info@windowontheclearwater.com