"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">FAIRHOPE,

Alabama—The Fairhope Personnel Board sided with the city’s police

chief today, upholding the proposed firing of Fairhope corrections

officer Ronald “Tony” Avera.

"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following

a closed hearing requested by Avera that lasted almost three hours,

the board deliberated in private for 30 minutes before announcing

in an open meeting that it had unanimously upheld the firing

recommendation of Police Chief Bill Press.

The city has

refused to release any information about the allegations involving

the disciplinary case against Avera, which has fueled rumor in the

community about what personnel violations he may have been charged

with.

Cecily

Kaffer, an attorney with the firm of Paul Myrick that has provided

employment law advice to the city for approximately 30 years, said

after the hearing that she thought the public had a right to know

what happened in the case, now that it was over, and would be

working with the city’s human resources director to release a

statement on behalf of the city by Wednesday morning.

Pandora

Heathcoe, the city’s HR director, declined comment after the

meeting and did not answer a phone call or email for comment by

close of work today.

"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Avera

said after the hearing that he intended to appeal the board’s

decision to circuit court in Baldwin County.

“He’s not

going to back down,” John Beck, Avera’s attorney, said after the

board’s ruling today.

"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In an

unrelated case, Fairhope police officer Tervelle Lee, whose case

before the personnel board was scheduled for Thursday, has

withdrawn his appeal, Kaffer told the board this morning, and his

Feb. 2 hearing has been cancelled.

Lee had filed

an appeal with the board from the decision of a hearing officer

that upheld Press’ termination recommendation. To date the city has

released no information involving the facts or allegations of Lee’s

case, citing personnel confidentiality rules.

"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Press

said today there remained three pending police employee cases in

which he has recommended firings that could come before the

personnel board.

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