LawCo settles Galbreath dispute

Feb. 26--MOULTON -- The Lawrence County Commission reached an agreement Tuesday with former administrator Tricia Galbreath for repayment of unauthorized checks written to her company.

Galbreath will pay the county $5,040.20, the difference between the $9,000 in unauthorized checks she wrote to Galbreath & Associates and money owed to Galbreath for unpaid work and expenses.

"This basically settles the civil matters between the two parties," county attorney Dave Martin said.

Martin said he did not have information about investigations initiated outside of the commission.

The county reported Galbreath to the state Ethics Commission, the state office of Examiners of Public Accounts, Lawrence County sheriff and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. The investigation also was reported to the Lawrence County district attorney, but was transferred to Franklin County earlier this month because of a conflict of interest.

"I'm glad we're moving forward," Commissioner Bobby Burch said.

Galbreath declined to comment.

Commissioners also approved changes for administrator Donna Llewellyn's salary, lowering her annual pay from $75,000 to $23,000 so she can continue to draw her pension.

The new contract also specifies Llewellyn will work three days a week to classify her as a part-time employee.

Llewellyn, a retired Colbert County administrator, said she proposed the idea because it would allow her to keep her monthly pension of $2,400 she receives though Retirement Systems of Alabama.

Llewellyn was hired in January after the county terminated Galbreath's contract.

"It's not going to hurt me, and it's going to help Lawrence County tremendously," Llewellyn said. "I can keep my insurance with Colbert County. I like their policy. I can do that and save money for the county."

According to Alabama law, a person receiving RSA benefits may work for an organization participating in RSA if the position is part time or temporary and can make up to $23,000 a year.

Bill Kelley, RSA's director of benefits for employees, said it is unusual to find a county administrator job that is part time.

"It's not the type of position that is normally a part-time position, but we don't dictate to the employers, and can't, what their full-time and part-time positions are," he said.

According to the county's job description, the administrator's duties include operating the County Commission office, preparing financial records and reports, implementing county policies and overseeing personnel policies.

Commissioners said they are confident the part-time hours will not create issues with county business.

"According to her, she is only going to get paid for three days, and outside of that, it's going to be volunteered," Chairman Mose Jones said. "What I'm looking at is it's just saving the county about $52,000 and it's going to be just a year."

Llewellyn said she will manage her hours to ensure she is working part time.

"If I work more, then I'm going to take it off the next week I'm working," she said.

Meredith Qualls can be reached at 256-340-2442 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @DailyMeredith.

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