MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie’s Human Rights Executive Director Shekela Bester was fired Monday after only six months on the job. Bester was suspended with pay last month after the commission, led by Michele Clark, began an investigation into her conduct.

During a commission meeting that was not live streamed, members voted to end her employment, raising allegations of absence, misspending and not reporting. Clark, a former communications director for Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour, read a statement saying Bester missed 25 days of work since she was hired in February, and only average about 12 hours a week in the office. There was an issue of Bester’s spending on a city credit card, including $42.82 for food and a gas bill of $205 for traveling to Chicago to attend a conference. Bester reportedly bought food to help a homeless family and is also a salaried employee.

The commission met twice in executive session to talk about the allegations which Clark said were part of an internal investigation. That report, besides even a resolution spelling out the termination, was not available to the public or press. Four members of Muncie City Council (Sara Gullion, Harold Mason, Nora Powell, Ro Selvey) also asked what had happened and how the agency was functioning with the director being suspended.

Commission member Linda Muckway has been handling casework since the suspension. and the commission put together a new committee including Muckway, Steve Sneed and Daisy Dale to find a new director.

There was more than an hour-long discussion among the commission and public about what led up to the firing and what was to be expected.

Wayne Scaife, a neighborhood advocate, repeatedly questioned how Bester was treated and claimed she was given little time to respond. Clark said she was repeatedly given time to respond to the spending and absence issues. Other commission members said Bester did not communicate or report about her work.

The commission was also going through reorganization last spring when some members resigned and new appointments were made. No meeting in May because the commission lacked a quorum, and in June the commission then suspended Bester with little information.

Monday’s vote was nearly unanimous with only Muckway abstaining and Christina Mann absent. Besides Clark, Dale and Sneed voting to fire, other commission members agreeing were Kim Miller, Pat Ivy and Gretchen Cheesman.

Bester did not attend the meeting and later declined to comment upon the advice of her attorney.

City council had also raised an issue with Community Development Director Gretchen Cheesman, for having a conflict of serving on the commission as well. Ordinance 14-26, stopping the mayor from appointing department heads and city officials to government boards and commissions, was introduced by council this month. There have also been concerns before about the mayor appointing himself to boards and commissions, including his dual role serving as the city’s redevelopment director after he became mayor in 2020.

Rick Yencer is a newsman and author who started his journalism career in 1978 with the Muncie Evening Press, and is also the author of Muncie in 150.