Clark County continued to defend itself Wednesday in the trial of a lawsuit brought by Don Benton, the former director of the now-defunct Department of Environmental Services, and two subordinates.
Ex-Clark County worker Clifford: I was assured reorganization rumors ‘just talk’
He, Benton, one other lost jobs when Department of Environmental Services was axed By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 11, 2021, 6:12pm
Share: Plaintiffs Chris Clifford, clockwise from left, Don Benton and Susan Rice pause to talk during a break from the lawsuit trial Wednesday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
A former program coordinator in the county’s now-defunct Department of Environmental Services testified Monday that employees were assured by board members and the county manager that rumblings of a department reorganization were “just talk.”
McCauley testifies at Benton lawsuit trial
Ex-county manager defends dissolving department, layoffs By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 10, 2021, 6:21pm
Share:
3 Photos Former Clark County manager Mark McCauley, center, testifies Monday in the trial for a lawsuit brought by Don Benton against the county as Superior Court Judge Gregory Gonzales, top, looks on at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) Photo Gallery
Clark County’s former manager intentionally left Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke out of the loop on an environmental services department reorganization, he said, because he knew they had a close political relationship with the director, Don Benton.
Benton testifies rumors of staff reorganization didn’t worry him By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor
Published: May 7, 2021, 6:10pm
Share: Don Benton waits for opening statements in his lawsuit trial against the county Monday at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
Don Benton, the former director of the county’s now-defunct Department of Environmental Services, had heard rumblings of a department reorganization or dissolution as early as 2014, he testified Friday.
Additionally, about a week before he filed a whistleblower complaint with the county’s human resources director, an employee emailed him voicing concerns about a reorganization.