Madras Aquatic Center Board fires director McHaney

The Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District Board unanimously approved a “no-cause termination” agreement with director Joe McHaney on Monday evening, more than two months after he was placed on paid administrative leave over allegations that were never made public.

The board held yet another closed-door executive session Monday to discuss the matter before approving the termination agreement in public session and without comment.

McHaney’s attorney, David Allen, emphasized afterward that the termination was without cause and said his client had lost his job unjustly due to unproven “wild accusations.”

Last fall, McHaney was named “Outstanding Director of the Year” by the Madras-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. He also had been acting executive director of the Jefferson County Kids’ Club.

“They had no basis to terminate employment with Mr. McHaney,” Allen said. “The parties agreed to walk their separate ways without any finding of wrongdoing whatsoever. “

“We’re of the opinion that the aquatic center board cannot verify a single dollar is missing,” the attorney added. “We don’t believe they can verify that there was any theft whatsoever. That was the basis for the investigation.”

District Attorney Steven Leriche had told NewsChannel 21 last month while the investigation was underway he planned to ask a law enforcement agency to investigate why McHaney was placed on leave.

Allen said McHaney would cooperate with any outside investigation and claimed the recreation district has not done a formal or forensic audit of its books, “and we’re concerned that certainly needs to be done. If the board’s not going to do it, then someone else should.”

“Ultimately, we’re concerned that there is another employee who had just as much access, if not more, and opportunity to have committed these alleged thefts,” Allen said. “They have not been under investigation. They’ve not been on administrative leave. And we’re concerned that while there may have been a problem at the MAC, they did not solve it here today.”