CLARKSDALE, MS (abc24.com) - Who's watching the animals? The Director of the Animal Shelter in Clarksdale, Mississippi is off the job, suspended for insubordination. The problem: He is the only full-time employee at the shelter.
"It is open, not the regular hours, we are going to work through it," said Curtis Boschert, City Attorney for the City of Clarksdale. "The animals are being taken care of, so, that's not a problem."
Nelghotti Ramsey was the shelter's director until October 9, when he says he was suspended after a disagreement with the city over $250 raised for the shelter at a private charity event. Ramsey says the city told him money raised by a city employee for a city property must be handed over to the city. He says he disagreed, countering it would be in the shelter's best interest to put the money in a public account to pay for the shelter's needs.
"I made a stand for these animals," said Ramsey.
"I can't get into an outstanding personnel issue. It is not fair to him, it is not fair to the city," Boschert said.
Boschert said at first there was some confusion as the city worked out what to do in Ramsey's absence. He says that has all since been figured out.
"Whatever confusion there was at the beginning, I think has been taken care of," Boschert said.
Ramsey says he still believes he did nothing wrong.
"If my personal stand cost me my job, I believe I stood up for what was right," he said.
