The decision to fire West Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 former assistant fire chief was 香蕉视频直播渆motionally charged.香蕉视频直播�
Kerry Klonteig filed a civil claim against the City of West Kelowna (formally District of West Kelowna) in 2014, asking for more than $150,000 in damages following what he deemed to be a hasty dismissal. The gist of his legal argument was that he was let go with little notice for 香蕉视频直播渁n administrative driving prohibition,香蕉视频直播� and it香蕉视频直播檚 caused him significant hardship.
Final arguments are underway today in Kelowna court in the case.
香蕉视频直播淏ased on his qualifications, experience, age and the difficulty he will encounter in finding similar and alternate or alternative employment, a notice period of 18 months is appropriate,香蕉视频直播� his lawyer Terry McCaffrey, wrote in a notice of claim.
香蕉视频直播淥n or about Oct. 6 2013, the plaintiff (Klonteig), while off duty, drove the fire chief香蕉视频直播檚 truck, a district fire department vehicle, to a restaurant and a casino where he consumed alcohol,香蕉视频直播� the document reads.
香蕉视频直播淎fter leaving the casino late at night, the plaintiff was pulled over by the RCMP at approximately 1:30 a.m. and was required to provide a breath or blood sample to measure his blood alcohol level, which the plaintiff advised the district he had failed.香蕉视频直播�
It香蕉视频直播檚 alleged the sample taken read above .08 and the Mounties immediately seized Klonteig香蕉视频直播檚 driver香蕉视频直播檚 license and suspended his driving privileges for 90 days. They also as impounded the district vehicle.
The civil suit is now before B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Supreme Court in Kelowna.
McCaffrey gave his closing argument Friday, saying West Kelowna fire chief Wayne Schnitzler and human resources manager Patty Tracy did not intend to dismiss Klonteig, but the decision came from CAO Jason Johnson.
He said Schnitzler was told to sign the termination letter from Johnson.
香蕉视频直播淗e was fired because Mr. Johnson determined this was the way you protect the public and taxpayers in the district,香蕉视频直播� said McCaffrey.
The district also did not give Klonteig a reference letter.
香蕉视频直播淲hat this effectively did then, this manner of terminating Mr. Klonteig, it left potential future employers to then speculate what the real reasons were in why, in a career choice of being a firefighter, why would anybody voluntarily leave one department香蕉视频直播� speculation, of course, is difficult if not impossible to control by an employee applying for a job,香蕉视频直播� said McCaffrey.
香蕉视频直播淭he CAO, Mr. Johnson, said this was a very serious matter, but he didn香蕉视频直播檛 keep a single note, of a meeting, of a telephone call, of a discussion with council. Nothing. So we香蕉视频直播檙e dealing with something that, as Ms. Tracy said, was 香蕉视频直播榚motionally charged,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he said.
McCaffrey pointed to the district香蕉视频直播檚 policies, none of which Klonteig violated, he said.
香蕉视频直播淏ecause the district was so new it had very few policies, the policies it did have, none of them have been said to apply to the circumstances,香蕉视频直播� said McCaffrey. The fire department had its own practice for using the pickup trucks and Klonteig adhered to that practice.
The suit continues.
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