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09/02/2010 05:40 PM

Mayor fires Human Resources Commissioner Thomas

By: Nicki Mayo

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has fired the city's human resources commissioner. As YNN's Nicki Mayo tells us the firing comes after problems in the city's HR department went unsolved for months.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo’s Human Resources Commissioner Karla Thomas is out of a job.

"I notified Commissioner Thomas that I was terminating her," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. He fired the embattled commissioner following months of City Hall audits and a law department investigation that wrapped up Wednesday.

"Less than 24 hours after receiving and reading that report. I made the decision to notify commissioner Thomas that I was terminating her," said Brown.

Thomas authorized $2.7million in medical coverage for 152 deceased city employees since 1998.

"There was an individual that has been carried for the last 12 years, several were in the mid 90’s, and it skyrocketed in the last two years," said Buffalo City Comptroller Andrew A. SanFilippo during an August 13 interview.

Since then, the city has purchased the social security death index, and is removing deceased former employees from the system.

"It’s unfortunate and it’s hard because I like the commissioner," said North Buffalo Common Councilman Joe Golombek.

He was one of Thomas’ strongest supporters, but he says her mistakes cost taxpayers $2million, too much. Councilman Golombek says Commissioner Thomas could have taken steps early on to avoid the benefits blunder.

"The mayor had made some recommendations on what to do in the department that were not followed. Had they been followed we might had been able to save $2million dollars," Golombek added.

"I had to offer Commissioner Thomas a hearing and review this matter with her," said Mayor Brown. He says Karla Thomas is still technically the commissioner under the city charter.

A hearing on her termination is scheduled September 16.