An arbitrator has ruled in favor of union official and former Clallam County Public Utility District line foreman Timm Kelly, who filed a wrongful termination complaint after he was fired almost a
year ago.
The PUD said that Kelly was getting paid $24,726 in PUD residency stipends for living in Forks when he allegedly was not residing there.
The arbitrator on Monday ordered the PUD to return Kelly to work, PUD spokesman Mike Howe said in a prepared statement.
Kelly, who was fired April 6, 2012, filed a wrongful termination complaint with the state Public Employment Relations Commission in October.
The PUD agreed to binding arbitration under the terms of the union contract after the matter could not be settled, Howe said.
“While there are issues to be worked out in implementing the arbitrator’s decision, the district will do so,” Howe said.
Howe would not comment on the nature of those issues.
Kelly is president and business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 997 and is the husband of Cindy Kelly, who ran unsuccessfully last November against PUD commission President Ted Simpson, the owner of Angeles Electric in Port Angeles.
A fraud investigation by the state Auditor’s Office had concluded Kelly was paid the stipend although he did not live in Forks and forwarded the report to the office of Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly, who is not related to Timm Kelly.
Deb Kelly did not return a call for comment this morning.
Timm Kelly was unavailable for comment
The copy of the arbitrator’s report also was unavailable.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
