Former 911 Director Disputes Authenticity of Performance ReviewFormer 911 Director Disputes Authenticity of Performance Review

4/25/14 - Were performance evaluations for the former 911 Central Dispatch Director created after-the-fact by Livingston County officials? After a large show of public support following Don Arbic’s departure, WHMI filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking his performance evaluations for 2010 through 2014, performed by County Administrator Belinda Peters. They showed he generally exceeded requirements and expectations up until 2013, when tension apparently increased. All of the reviews provided to WHMI had also been signed by both Arbic and Peters, but the 2013 review was not. He’s disputing the authenticity of the 2013 evaluation and believes it was purposefully written and released to justify his departure after he was called to resign. Arbic says he was unaware the 2013 appraisal even existed until April 17th and it was never discussed with him. He’s since filed a request with human resources demanding it be expunged from his personnel file, along with the 2014 review - which he feels was poisoned by the 2013 claims. What Arbic believes further demonstrates the review was written after the fact is that the Board of Commissioners did not authorize a staffing level of 25 for the department until the 2014 budget. It would have been 24 in 2013 but was reflected otherwise in the review, which he feels makes clear the author is attempting to bridge the gap between evaluations following ten years of valuable service to provide the foundation for the low ratings on the last performance review. Arbic maintains there was only disagreement and difficulty with one department head, not multiple individuals and staff as the review states. The most recent evaluation also stated that he needed to immediately revamp hiring and training processes due to a low retention rate. Arbic countered that he was handicapped while recruiting, training and retaining quality employees and urged the negotiation of fair contracts in 2009 and 2011, but better pay was not authorized until January of 2014, despite having a $4 million fund balance in the 911/Central Dispatch budget. Arbic says in reality, he was tasked with staffing the department for five years while employee pay was frozen and health insurance and retirement benefits were being cut along with positions and new employee pay. Peters declined to directly respond to any of the claims, saying it’s the policy of the County not to comment on specific personnel matters regarding current and former employees but Arbic’s service and accomplishments during his tenure were appreciated. Despite being at odds, both Peters and Arbic expressed that dispatchers deserve to be commended for all of the lifesaving work they do. (JM)