FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Monday to allow communications center Director Stan Wheeler to hire Kyle Ellis as a dispatch supervisor.

The action followed an executive session with Wheeler.

Ellis, of Wilton, was one of four dispatchers at the center to apply for the supervisor position vacated by Melinda Caton, who retired this past spring after a long career.

Ellis will be one of two supervisors at the center. Dispatcher Tom Marble of Farmington was promoted to supervisor in July 2014. 

At the July 5 commissioners’ meeting, Wheeler presented another dispatcher’s name to commissioners for the supervisor position. He told commissioners that Tyler Richards of Strong was the unanimous choice of an oral board that conducted interviews with the four dispatchers.

Commissioners took no action and tabled the matter until they were sure the union contract covering dispatchers had been followed.

On Tuesday, when Wheeler was asked by a Sun Journal reporter why a different name was presented to commissioners Monday, Wheeler said he had reconvened the oral board, but the same members were not in attendance.

Wheeler said he failed to present the first oral board with dispatchers’ certifications and other related information.

The oral board did not have a unanimous choice, and in the end, Wheeler said, it was his final decision.

Under the union contract, if qualifications for candidates are equal, the position will go to the most senior candidate, he said.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net