Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Monday, January 4, 2010 4:16 pm

Rutherford County’s Correctional Work Center superintendent Alan Miller lost his job Monday after the center’s board failed to renew his two-year contract.

County Mayor Ernest Burgess said the board voted unanimously not to reappoint Miller to supervise the correctional facility with 220 to 250 inmates.

“There were no reasons spelled out,” Burgess said.

Miller served almost 12 years at the superintendent.

“I don’t think it was unexpected and he handled it respectfully,” Burgess said.

Sheriff’s Lt. Bernard Salandy was appointed interim superintendent until the board reviews the job description and hires a fulltime superintendent by April 1. Salandy may apply as superintendent.

During the October board meeting, Burgess cited a list of “pervasive” violations occurring at the work center under Miller’s leadership, including nepotism, misuse of county property, fraternization with inmates and violation of safety rules.

“I’m really convinced we don’t have the proper leadership and supervision in place,” Burgess told the board, later saying, “We’re going to have to take affirmative action. We’re at risk.”

Miller asked the board to investigate before rushing into a decision.

“I’m not willing to be the victim of something I believe has been contrived to make me look bad,” Miller said.

Miller could not be reached for comment but attorney Brad Hornsby, who represents Miller, said his client was upset and disheartened because he never had a chance to rebut the allegations.

“We were never provided a list of any complaints by the county mayor,” Hornsby said. “What we read in the newspaper could have easily been rebutted.”

For example, one complaint centered on Miller allegedly taking a trip to Colorado with a women employee to look at a correctional center there.

“He took the trip with two females to Colorado to examine another work facility,” Hornsby said. “If this was two guys that went with him, this issue never would have been raised.”

Hornsby said Burgess is making it difficult to hire women and not have allegations made because a man is doing his job with a woman employee.

State law mandates the superintendent will be named on the first Monday of each even year so he believes the board named Salandy as a permanent superintendent because there’s no exception for an interim.

Commissioner Gary Farley, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said he would leave comment to the board because Miller worked for them.