A former Mount Pleasant employee who told board members she was fired for being a whistleblower collected more than $1,500 in overtime to which she was not entitled.
When former payroll clerk Jillian Schumacher took to the microphone June 13 during the public comment period of a village board meeting, she accused former Village Administrator Kurt Wahlen of firing her for blowing the whistle on what she said were unethical financial practices.
But, according to a story in The Journal Times based on personnel records released under Wisconsin’s open records law, Schumacher collected more than $1,500 in overtime pay in 2016 to which she was not entitled because she was a salaried employee.
Wahlen approved time cards Schumacher submitted to him and questioned her when was no longer turning in her time, the story continues. Emails obtained by the newspaper also indicate that Schumacher was questioned about her attendance and some colleagues may have had issues with the way she did her job.
Schumacher was fired in May.
Neither Schumacher nor Village President Jerry Garski would comment for The Journal Times story, but Trustee David DeGroot said he thinks Schumacher’s comments were a well-orchestrated move to have Wahlen fired.
The board on July 11 unanimously approved terminating Wahlen.