Fish and Game Commission holds rare hearing over personnel dispute
Apr. 15—CONCORD — In a rare public hearing Monday, Fish and Game Col. Kevin Jordan charged that Commissioner Susan G. Price of Moultonborough violated state law when she told the human resources director that she would do some housecleaning of top employees if she became the agency's interim director.
Jordan is Fish and Game's chief law enforcement officer.
Human Resources Director Deirdre Grimes testified that Price's comment led her to believe that if Price got promoted, she would terminate either Jordan or his wife, Lisa, who is Jordan's administrative assistant.
"I thought it meant somebody wasn't going to be working upstairs any longer — you or someone else," Grimes told Col. Jordan, who acted as his own counsel in Monday's hearing.
The conversation allegedly took place Dec. 19 in the first-floor hallway of the Fish and Game headquarters.
Price denied speaking with Grimes at all that day or suggesting to anyone that she would seek to remove Jordan or his wife from their posts.
"It did not occur," Price said.
During her testimony, Price did say she had spoken with Senate President Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, about her interest in being named interim director.
Executive Director Scott Mason won't seek another four-year term when his current one ends this August. The Fish and Game Commission already has formed a search committee to recommend a replacement.
Jordan said he learned of the comment from Mason who said Grimes had told him about it some days after it allegedly happened.
Price said that Mason had "issues with women." Over his years as director, Mason treated the two females on the 11-person commission unfairly, Price charged.
"I just never had anybody treat me in a dismissive manner in a professional context," said Price, a past executive with Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and business owner.
For his part, Mason thought Price, if she moved up, intended to fire Jordan for nepotism.
Mark Beauchesne, programs coordinator for the agency's public affairs division, said he saw Grimes and Price talking in the hallway on the day in question.
Beauchesne said he didn't hear any of the conversation.
Jordan, a 30-year employee of the agency, filed the complaint against Price in January.
"It was a violation of law, it was out of line, and I thought it was inappropriate," Jordan said.
The rest of the Fish and Game Commission heard the testimony as the jury in this case, and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Velardi acted as presiding officer.
A state law adopted in 2004 prevents Fish and Game commissioners from taking part in matters involving the classified staff, who work under the executive director.
State officials said this is the first hearing to be held under this process.
It's up to the commission to make any recommendation to Gov. Chris Sununu and the Executive Council for any discipline if Price is found to have violated the law.
The commission has the option to issue a public reprimand for the conduct.
Price's lawyer, William Woodbury, repeated the assertion that the comment was not made, but he stressed that even if it had, it wouldn't come close to being a violation of the law.
After the three-hour proceeding, the commission gave both sides until May 6 to submit findings of fact. The commission set a May 21 meeting to publicly deliberate on this matter.
Woodbury said the law is vague and meant to cover direct actions taken against an employee, not offhanded comments made by a member of the commission.
Jordan said he and other staff felt threatened.
"I have been wearing this costume for 33 years. I am a dedicated police officer. There isn't so much as a mark on my record, and I don't feel I need to be treated like this," Jordan said.
Jordan suggested if Price had apologized for the comment rather than deny it ever happened, he would not have lodged the complaint.
"I am sad my staff have been called liars," Jordan said, describing himself as "angry" when he first learned of the comment.
