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Oneida Board Signs Off On No Further VSO Sanctions

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The full Oneida County Board Tuesday went along with a committee recommendation and approved no further discipline for Veterans Services Officer Tammy Walters.

Walters faced a hearing last month where 8 charges were brought against her after an investigation was conducted by Human Resources Director Lisa Charbarneau.

Six of the charges were dismissed by the county board, and two were found to have enough evidence to merit discipline. The board told the Administration committee to recommend any further discipline. The committee recommended no other discipline, saying the remaining charges didn't meet the level of termination.

County Board Chair David Hintz felt the time for healing had begun..

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"....I felt it was time for the county to move forward and heal and move down what I called 'highway C' which (means) conciliatory, that we move forward. We've all learned things from this process..."

The two charges that led to the further meetings were due to the public use of profanity and giving of an access card to a volunteer to help when Walters was away. Supervisor Jack Sorenson..

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"....it should be noted apologies for the profanity have been rendered and accepted and that also the appropriate departments are working so volunteers will have cards for access...."

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The full board approved the no discipline recommendation by an 18-2 margin.

While that matter was concluded, the board began a debate as to what to do to correct any future situations like the Walters hearing. Because that process was not on the agenda, Corporation Counsel Brian Desmond said it wasn't proper to debate or take action on items not on the agenda. Walters' mother told the board her daughter has $10,000 in legal bills to pay for mounting a defense to the allegations.

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