Fort Smith board reverses course on hiring internal auditor, terminates agreement

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Thursday (April 24) voted during a special called meeting to not hire Rebecca Cowan as the city’s internal auditor. The unanimous vote followed an almost two-hour executive session.

Thursday’s vote followed reporting on April 23 by Talk Business & Politics that Cowan is out of jail on a signature bond  for a fugitive from justice violation, which is a felony charge. Cowan, 48, was booked into the Sebastian County Jail June 7, 2024, on a fugitive from justice out-of-state warrant stemming from a felony stalking charge in LeFlore County, Oklahoma. She was released on bond June 10, according to the booking report by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office. Cowan, who is scheduled for court in Poteau on May 21, is charged with a felony but is not a convicted felon.

Director Lee Kemp requested a special meeting Thursday (April 24) for the purpose of an executive session to discuss the previously approved hiring of Cowan as the director of internal audits for the city. The board on Tuesday (April 22) unanimously approved a resolution to hire Cowan for the position of internal auditor with an annual salary of $110,000.02.

The city issued a press release Wednesday (April 23) announcing the board’s decision to hire Cowan. The internal auditor and city administrator positions for the city are the only two positions directly hired by the board of directors. The primary role of an internal auditor is to lead efforts to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability across all city departments.

Late Thursday afternoon the media and public was notified of a special meeting to again consider Cowan’s employment. Kemp said Thursday prior to the special executive session the board did not know of the felony charges prior to passing the resolution Tuesday night.

“Information came to light that we were not made aware of (earlier). In light of that, I thought we needed to come together and look at all the information before moving forward,” Kemp said prior to Thursday’s meeting.

City Director Neal Martin also said the board did not have information about Cowan’s background prior to Tuesday’s vote to hire her.

“I’m frustrated,” Martin said before the executive session. “There are certain things the board needs to know when making a hiring decision. I don’t believe we had the information.”

Cowan’s scheduled start date as the internal auditor was May 27. She was hired to fill the position left vacant when Tracey Shockley left April 1, 2024, after nine years with the city.

“The City of Fort Smith is aware of recent media reports concerning Rebecca Cowan, who was appointed as the City’s Director of Internal Audit on April 22. The applicant disclosed references to ongoing legal issues as part of her application materials. As this involves a personnel matter and a personal, active legal situation, the City of Fort Smith will refrain from further comment until that process is complete,” noted a statement provided Thursday afternoon by Josh Buchfink, the city’s public relations manager.

Mayor George McGil, who was not present for Tuesday’s special meeting at which Cowan was hired, said he was not aware of Cowan’s background and is not sure why she was not more fully vetted.

“I will be asking questions about this,” he said.

The mayor was not at Thursday’s meeting. Four of the directors were physically present at the meeting – Directors Christina Catsavis and George Catsavis, Director André Good, and Kemp and Martin. Director Kevin Settle called in to attend the meeting by phone.

The city hired SGR, a Keller, Texas-based executive recruitment firm, to help fill the position. A simple Internet search would have discovered Cowan’s legal situation, so it is unclear the extent of background vetting conducted by SGR or the city.

Buchfink said the city and SGR were involved in investigating and vetting the finalist.

Dingman told the board Feb. 27 that there had been seven or eight applicants for the position. Five of those were identified as meeting qualifications as ideal candidates, putting them in the A-tier from the recruitment firm, he said. One of the five in the A-tier had been interviewed before that date and eliminated from the field, he said.

“While several candidates expressed interest in the position, only one finalist was chosen and interviewed,” Buchfink said Thursday in response to a request from Talk Business & Politics for information on other considered candidates.