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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- The city human resources manager hired to help improve minority employment was fired this week, prompting complaints from his attorney that the city was retaliating to a discrimination complaint.
Dean Martinez was fired Monday, said John Patterson, Ogden's chief administrative officer.
"He was terminated for cause, and generally for dishonesty, for misappropriation of public documents and for other missteps, other misconduct, I guess is the best word," Patterson said.
Attorney Jim Retallick, who represents Patterson, said his client denied all allegations of misconduct.
"I think they were hasty," Retallick said. "I think it was a rash decision to terminate him. I don't believe they had just cause to terminate him."
Martinez, who was hired by the city in 2004, was on vacation and was not reachable by phone, Retallick said.
City attorney Gary Williams said Martinez complained in October about his pay level and cited the salaries of other city employees in his complaint.
Patterson said Martinez asked an employee to get records that were protected and Martinez had no reason to look at them or copy them.
Before coming to Ogden, Martinez served on the Economic Development Committee for the state's Office of Black Affairs. He was also on the Ogden Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
