The Morgan County Commission should allow its experienced human resources director Terry Naccarato to do his job. Two of the four voting members are willing to do that and two obviously are not.

Although District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark concedes that Mr. Naccarato is doing a good job, he still wants to put him back on probationary status as a recent hire. Mr. Clark says he wants to be fair to all county employees.

Trying to undo action that Commissioners Ken Livingston and Stacy George took is inconsistent with what Mr. Clark is telling the public. Some might say he is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

Mr. George and Mr. Livingston took the director off probation after learning of his stand against purported illegal hirings by Sheriff Greg Bartlett. Mr. Naccarato said the sheriff discriminated in his hiring of two jail employees.

Commissioners George and Livingston seemed to think that Mr. Naccarato's job was in danger. Their action would make it more difficult for the commission to fire him.

District 3 Commissioner Kevin Murphy voted against the removal of Mr. Naccarato's probation. Mr. Clark did not attend the meeting. The two say they received complaints from officials and employees. They refused to name the complainants and The Daily couldn't find any at the courthouse. The license commissioner, revenue commissioner and probate judge all said they didn't complain.

Then, there's the issue of what appears to be micro-management.

Commissioner George says he believes that Administrator Syble Atkins and Chairman John Glasscock are out to get rid of Mr. Naccarato. Mr. George said he's been told that, and has seen Mr. Glasscock, Ms. Atkins and three employees monitor Mr. Naccarato's office when he's on the phone or talking to someone in person.

If that's the case it is not right. The employees, as well as Mr. Glasscock, who makes more than $90,000 and Ms. Atkins, whose salary is more than $73,000, should have enough real work to keep them busy.

Mr. Clark probably needs to think twice before proceeding with trying to place the director back on probation.

How could any official stand for what's right when condoning something that is reportedly wrong?

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