Name-clearing hearings for ex-employees delayed

After communicating with frustrated attorneys for former Building Official William Overstreet and former Deputy Building Official Alfred Hogrefe, City Manager Bob Lee changed the dates for the hearings from Friday to Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.

Earlier this week, Lee informed David Bryant, Overstreet's attorney, and Eric Vasquez, Hogrefe's attorney, that the hearings would be closed to the public on Friday and could last only 90 minutes. Bryant and Vasquez immediately argued they needed more time to prepare because they had not yet received the public records they requested from the city.

They also argued for more than 90 minutes. Bryant had requested they last an entire work day.

Overstreet's hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12 and Hogrefe's hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13. Both will be held at 4 p.m.

Lee said earlier this week that he did not plan to change the hearing date, but Friday he said delaying the hearings for 12 to 30 days wouldn't be a problem.

"That's reasonable," Lee said. "The idea is to get as much information as I can."

Bryant said that the city should have scheduled a later date in the first place.

"To be fair, they should have given us more time to be able to prepare for the hearing," Bryant said.

"The allegations against Mr. Overstreet are unfounded," he added.

The hearings will give Overstreet and Hogrefe a chance to give Lee any information that would prove that the city was wrong to accuse both men of several allegations, including accepting fishing trips offered by Boran Craig Barber Engel Construction Co. Inc. during company time and giving themselves up to $1,000 discounts for city permits when working on their homes, which are both in the city.

Lee suspended both men with pay earlier this month, but they resigned shortly after receiving their suspensions.

Labor attorney Jon Fishbane advised Lee the hearings should not be open to the public because they are employment meetings with former employees. Therefore, he said, they do not violate state open meeting laws, also known as the Sunshine Law.

Lee would not comment on whether the case will be forwarded to the State Attorney's Office after the hearings or whether Overstreet and Hogrefe might face criminal charges if allegations are proved.

Overstreet, 64, served as building official since 1994 and collected $80,000 a year. Hogrefe, 64, received an annual salary of $56,000 and served as deputy building official since 1995.