By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Morgan County Commission dismissed its Human Resources Director Tuesday, saying he violated the policy on transmitting sexually explicit materials via email.
The Commission voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Human Resources Director Jack Underwood after meeting in executive session more than an hour.
Underwood met with commissioners and their attorney, David Langston, behind closed doors to answer an allegation that he transmitted a sexually explicit email to Chairman John Glasscock last January via a county-owned computer. The same email was reportedly transmitted by Glasscock to Decatur Mayor Don Kyle, where it was stopped.
Prior to making a motion to terminate Underwood, District 4 Commissioner Stacy George said he was “satisfied from the investigation that Mr. Underwood violated the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.”
Langston, reading from the manual, cited the passage that states that the use of the Morgan County computer system for the transmittal of any language or depiction that is sexually explicit or inflammatory is prohibited. It further stated that any employee found in violation of the policy may be subject to termination.
George followed with a motion to terminate and District 2 Commissioner Ken Livingston seconded his motion. The four remaining commissioners also voted for the dismissal.
The email in question was first exposed in a news report aired by Greg Privett of Channel 19 early last week. It was described as a “girly calendar” showing a nude female and 12 scantily clad females.
Privett said he received a hard copy of the email in his mail box, without any identification.
The commission acted on other matters as follows: