McKamey Animal Center board unsuccessful again in ousting member

photo McKamey Animal Center is located on Access Road in Hixson.

The McKamey Animal Center board of directors tried to get rid of Carol Goodman, their fellow board member, again Tuesday evening.

This time, it was snuffed out by a legal loophole that requires the board to provide seven days' notice to board members -- including Goodman -- about an upcoming termination. Goodman reportedly was given only five days' notice.

Although Goodman didn't resign from the board, she read her post-termination statement anyway.

"I am happy to leave this board and all its corruption, illegal activities, personal backbiting and unethical behaviors," her statement said.

That left several board members under the impression that Goodman had resigned on the spot.

"It sounded like it to me," said Ann Ball.

Tuesday was when Goodman expected months of in-fighting, a city review, the resignation of Executive Director Karen Walsh and three board member resignations in three months to come to a head. And her termination.

Instead, Ball -- Goodman's opposition on the board -- was elected chairwoman, when leadership of the board changed hands midmeeting. Bruce Baird's term as chairman expired after the board elected new officers and reinstated him as a regular board member.

Being unable to terminate Goodman on Tuesday, Ball asked for a special meeting on Dec. 4 just to vote her out -- if she's even still a board member at that point.

Goodman says she will be.

"They have to vote me off," she said Tuesday night. "They wanted to do it tonight, but they did not give me adequate notice."

She said the board will "definitely" can her next month, though.

Ball expects so, too.

"We obviously wanted to remove her from the board," she said after Tuesday's meeting. Not sure if Goodman's statement Tuesday evening was a resignation, Ball said "if it wasn't, we'll vote to remove her" next month.

On top of all that, Tuesday's meeting was the first for Elisabeth Donnovin, the city's new McKamey board appointee. In the midst on an ongoing review by city auditors, she prodded several of the board's decisions, past and present. Jeff Cannon, new chief operating officer in Mayor Andy Berke's administration, was also at Tuesday's meeting.

And outgoing director Karen Walsh -- also there -- will be paid as a contract employee through the end of this month, maybe longer if need be. The McKamey Animal Center's adoption pavilion will be named in her honor. She was slated to address the City Council on McKamey matters Tuesday evening but was removed from the agenda at the last minute.

On the first night of her new term as chairwoman, Ball said this is all "a piece of cake" compared to where McKamey was four years ago.

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.

Upcoming Events