Senior center director says she was forced to resign

The Hot Springs County Senior Center is again looking for a new director following the resignation of Lisa Pierce.

Pierce started at the center on May 1, 2017, taking over from Chanda Waddell. Pierce has lived in Thermopolis for more than 11 years, and prior to working at the senior center she was with Hot Springs County Library.

In a recent email from Pierce, she stated she was forced to give her resignation.

“I was informed that the Board of Directors wanted to have a meeting with the staff prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting on March 22nd,” Pierce stated, “and I should not be in the building for this meeting. This followed me writing up an employee for bullying another employee in a room full of people and within hearing of anyone in the lobby area of the Center. The employee I wrote up then asked for current contact information to contact board members which was provided.”

Pierce further stated she left the building on Thursday, March 22 at 1:50 p.m. so the board could meet with staff at 2 p.m. As she lives out of town, she waited at the state park for the board chair, Barb Vietti, to contact her and have her come to the official board meeting normally scheduled for the day.

At 4:15 p.m. she received the call that the board would like her to join them.

“When I arrived back at the center,” Pierce stated, “I gathered my papers for the meeting and joined the Board in the meeting room. I was informed that the meeting had started and they were in Executive Session. Barb Vietti asked Jim Kirsch to continue. He stated that the Board had decided to ask for my resignation. A forced resignation is the same as being terminated. Barb Vietti said the Board had ‘concerns.’ I was then informed that I could stay for the rest of the meeting or just leave.”

Pierce was further informed her resignation was effective immediately. She left and went to her office, wrote a brief letter of resignation and packed all her things while the board continued to meet.

“I have no idea what the ‘concerns’ were or who had those concerns,” Pierce stated. “No one has ever evaluated me in any way, and I was not aware of concerns from staff or the board beyond needing to improve communication with kitchen staff. I have received many positive comments, including hugs and being told I was doing a ‘great job’ from board members, during my ten months as director. During the board meeting I was not told about any concerns or given the opportunity to respond in any way about them.

“My resignation was not my choice and I have not been sleeping or functioning well since it happened. I am concerned that the services provided by the senior center will continue to be funded and my new friends will be taken care of, as they need the services.”

Vietti declined to comment on Pierce’s resignation.

Pierce stated she was leaving this past Sunday for North Carolina to look for employment near her grandsons.

Trenda Moore is currently acting as interim director at the center. The center also recently lost office manager Bruce Lohman, who started on Feb. 12, and staff at the center were in the process of hiring for the position.