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Published Oct. 23 in the Big Sandy News Fired Paintsville EMS workers may sue By
CHRIS McDAVID PAINTSVILLE — Two former employees of the Paintsville Ambulance Service say they were abruptly fired without cause last week and that they will pursue legal action against the city. Paramedic Salina West and EMT Beverly Ratliff, who were reportedly the only two females working on the road for the city ambulance service, said Wednesday that they contacted an attorney in reference to allegations they were terminated without due process and that the action represented sex discrimination. Ratliff also said she may file sexual harassment charges against fire department officials, who she did not name. The two said they had been advised by legal counsel not to discuss specifics, but they indicated they had asked for an explanation of their sudden terminations. They said fire chief Bob Dixon said only that the decision was based on “evaluations,” but the women claimed they had never been through a formal evaluation process and had not signed off on any reports concerning their job performances. West said she had been told a few days prior to her termination that her work was more than satisfactory. “Chief Dixon said, in front of others, that he wished he had 10 more just like us,” West said. West, who was hired in June, and Ratliff, who was hired in July, were still probationary employees with the ambulance service. They claim, however, that city personnel rules give them the right to due process before they are terminated. West and Ratliff said Dixon told them Paintsville Mayor Robin Cooper had approved their terminations, but they said Cooper denied any prior knowledge of the action when they met with him Wednesday at city hall. The pair said Cooper promised to discuss the issue with Dixon and that he would provide them with a written explanation of the action later that day. They had not received that written explanation by the end of the week, they said, and they have not been available this week for further comment. Dixon did not return telephone calls this week seeking his comments on the firings or the potential litigation.
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