Department of Human & Cultural Services 200 South President Street

Post Office Box 17

Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0017

Pamela A. Scott, Ph.D., LCSW - Director

Department of Human & Cultural Services
633 N. State Street, 4th Floor
Jackson, MS 39292

November 8, 2024

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Angela Ladner, Municipal Auditorium Manager
2207 Government Street, Lot 1
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Dear Angela Ladner:
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Subject: Notice of Intent to Terminate Employment – Municipal Auditorium Manager
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Please be advised that The City of Jackson intends to terminate your employment as a Municipal
Auditorium Manager in the Department of Human and Cultural Services for violation of conduct
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rules of the City of Jackson Civil Service Commission and also provisions of the City of Jackson
Employee Handbook.
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Pursuant to Rule XII Section 1 Provision 1.1 of the City of Jackson Civil Service Rules, the
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tenure of persons holding an office, place, position or employment under Civil Service shall be
only during good behavior. Any employee permanently appointed may be removed, dismissed,
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suspended without pay, demoted, or deprived of vacation privileges or other special privileges
for any of the causes hereinafter enumerated or for any other act of omission or commission
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tending to injure the public service.

The Department of Human Resources confirmed that your return to work date following
expiration of FMLA leave was October 31, 2024. Prior to October 31, 2024, a request was
submitted inquiring into whether it would be feasible to work remotely. The basis of the request
was that a physician had recommended that you avoid exposure to Thalia Mara Hall. Prior to the
submission of the request, a directive had already been given to you to not enter Thalia Mara
Hall unless instructed. Therefore, there was not a likelihood of you being exposed to mold at
Thalia Mara Hall.

On November 4, 2024, I informed you that the request was denied because your designated work
location was 633 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39202. You were instructed to report to your
designated work location, 633 North State Street, on November 5, 2024.
As of today, November 8, 2024, you have exceeded the three-day absence without notification or
approval, which constitutes job abandonment per City policy.

You were absent on the following days without prior approval or appropriate notice of your
absence:

• Thursday, October 31, 2024

• Friday, November 1, 2024
• Monday, November 4, 2024
• Tuesday, November 5, 2024
• Wednesday, November 6, 2024
• Thursday, November 7, 2024

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• Friday, November 8, 2024

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Despite a clear directive, as of the date of this letter, you have not reported to your assigned work
location and have not communicated with your supervisor regarding your continued absence.

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This is considered insubordination, as you failed to comply with a direct order. Additionally,
your unapproved absence violates several City policies, as outlined in the City of Jackson
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Employee Handbook:
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• Rule 5.5.1 – Punctual and Consistent Attendance: "It is the Employee’s responsibility
to be at work as scheduled, to arrange personal schedules to meet established working
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hours, and to notify their supervisor as early as possible if they expect to be absent or
tardy within the standards of operating procedures of the department."
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• Rule 5.5.2 – Attendance Requirements: "Employees are expected to be at their work

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stations, ready to begin work, at the beginning of the assigned shift."

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• Rule 5.5.3 – Unapproved Absence: "Employees who are absent for three (3)
consecutive work days without permission and without notification to their supervisor
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shall be considered to have abandoned the job."

• Rule 9.3.9 – Reporting Absence: "Employees who are absent from work must report
their absence to their immediate supervisor based upon departmental policies and
procedures, except in no case shall it be later than one (1) hour prior to the start of the
work day. In extreme emergencies, notification should be given as soon as practicable."

• Rule 11.2.2 – Willful Violation of Directives: "Willful violation of any lawful and
reasonable regulations, orders, or directives given by authorized supervisors or City
Management officials where such violations have amounted to a breach of proper
discipline or have resulted in the loss or injury of the public."
In addition to violation of the provisions of the City of Jackson Employee Handbook, the
following enumerated causes of the City of Jackson Civil Service Commission are implicated:

• Rule XII Section 2 Provision 1.1 (C) Willful violation of any lawful and reasonable
regulations or directives given by a superior where such violation has amounted to
insubordination or serious breach of proper discipline.

• Rule XII Section 2 Provision 1.1 (P) Absence without leave

• Rule XII Section 2 Provision 1.2 Internal rules, regulations, or procedures established by
appointing authorities, not enumerated herein, and not in conflict with the Civil Service
Law or these Rules and Regulations remain valid. Violations of these department rules
shall be handled as provided for in this Rule and Rule XI.

You may respond orally or in writing to the City of Jackson’s intended termination of your

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employment at a pretermination hearing on November 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. via Life Size. If
you fail to submit a written response or appear and respond orally at the pretermination hearing,

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a recommendation will be submitted to the appointing authority for the termination of your
employment.

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The virtual hearing will be accessible at https://call.lifesize.com/1658100. If you wish, you may
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have one observer join the hearing by dialing (312) 584-2401 and entering the meeting extension
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1658100#.

Failure to attend the virtual pre-determination hearing or submit a written response regarding the
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intended disciplinary action will result in a recommendation to the appointing authority to proceed
with the recommended termination.
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Sincerely,
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Pamela A. Scott, Ph.D., LCSW

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Director of Human & Cultural Services

The City of Jackson, MS

cc: Toya Martin, Director of Human Resources

Vickie Perry, Deputy Director of Human Resources
Carrie Johnson, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Veleanor Ballard, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
Personnel file
 ., �
JACKSON
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THE CITY OF

M I S S I S S IP P I

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN AND CULTURAL SERVICES

Pamela A. Scott, Ph.D., LCSW

Director of Human & Cultural Services
City of Jackson, Mississippi

November 4, 2024

Angela Ladner
Municipal Auditorium Manager

Dear Ms. Ladner,

I hope this message finds you well. I am in receipt of your request to work remotely and of the

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letter submitted by Dr. John Vanderloo in support of that request.

After careful consideration, I must deny your request. The Municipal Auditorium Manager

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position does not support regular or lengthy remote work. The nature of the work requires a

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physical presence during regular 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. office hoursto ensure effective
collaboration and communication with the team. The Manager’s presence will also greatly aid in
understanding and monitoring day-to-day conditions at the theater and providing feedback
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concerning the theater’s needs. While I reserve the right to grant limited and finite remote work
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where it is appropriate, I cannot approve a two-month request for this position. As we work to re-
open the theater and resume regular operations, the Manager’s on-site presence is especially
important.
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If you need additional time away for medical reasons, you should contact HR to discuss an
extension of your FMLA leave, assuming that you are eligible and additional time is available. If
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you do not extend your FMLA leave, then you should report to your assigned work-site on
November 5, 2024.
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If you have any questions or would like to discuss this in more detail, please feel free to reach
out.
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Thank you for your commitment to our team.

Best regards,

Pamela A. Scott, Ph.D., LCSW

Director of Human & Cultural Services

P.O. Box 17 I Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0017

www.jacksonms.gov
 TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY RECORD
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September 2024