More troubles for Reynolds. State ethics board to investigate two former, one current Reynolds employee

Medical bills draw scrutiny.

Complaints filed against a current and two former school district administrators

Source: The Oregonian: Saturday, March 14, 2009

The state ethics commission will investigate one current and two former Reynolds School District employees for allegedly using district money to pay for unnecessary medical procedures that included cosmetic surgery and Viagra prescriptions.

The commission is responding to complaints filed by Reynolds Superintendent Robert Fisher against former Superintendent Terry Kneisler, former Human Resources Director Wayne Travillion and current Salish Ponds Elementary Principal Ed Smith.

A factor in the budget crisis?

The complaints allege that Kneisler's bills, totaling $15,000, included massages, cosmetic dental work, Viagra prescriptions and laser eye surgery for himself and his daughter.

In a letter to the commission, James Brown, a lawyer who represents the three men, said Kneisler "did not receive any medical expense reimbursement that was not available to other Reynolds district administrators who incurred similar expenses."

Smith's bills, which totaled about $10,000, included a 2005 cosmetic surgery for his wife. Brown said Smith told the district that the money was for elective surgery when he requested reimbursement.

"As you know, I am not sitting down for any of this," said Reynolds School Board Chairman John Nelsen. "My community deserves better. If it turns out that any violations took place I will work to see justice for our community."

Reynolds did have an unusual benefits contract for administrators that allowed full reimbursement for required medical procedures. The contract barred reimbursement for elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgery. The district and the administrators union eliminated the contract this school year.

Adding insult to injury

The complaint against Travillion alleges that as former human resources director, he managed the administrative contracts and reimbursements.

Travillion retired in September after repaying the district $33,000 for health-benefit premiums (related story) that the district paid for his former wife after the couple were divorced and she was no longer eligible.

The complaint also alleges that Travillion authorized a $16,000 retirement bonus for himself, which wasn't allowed in his contract. Brown wrote to the ethics commission that the money wasn't a bonus but payment for unused sick leave and vacation time.

If the commission finds that the men shouldn't have received the money, the three could pay fines up to twice the amount of their financial benefit. District leaders say they also hope the men will pay back the benefits.