Husband-Wife Team Resign After Conflicts

The small county of Cumberland (Tenn.) has generated some big problems after the directors of both the E911 District director and comm center resigned—a husband and wife team. Bill Hunter headed the E911 district and his wife Barbara Coffman-Hunter managed the comm center until Hunter submitted his resignation last month, saying he’d accepted another position. Coffman-Hunter resigned last Tuesday, saying she also would be following her husband to another state, and despite county officials asking her to stay until her replacement could be found. After Hunter’s resignation, the county committee overseeing 911 and the comm center received grievances from two dispatchers against Coffman-Hunter, one alleging wrongful termination in May 2010. The committee later rehired the involved dispatcher with conditions, a vote that was unanimous except for Hunter, who is a member of the committee. Read more about the grievances and personnel situation here. [In an e-mail to DM, Mr. Hunter provided additional information which was used to clarify certain details of the situation in this story.]