Special session to focus on future of Fort Smith human resources chief

In the aftermath of a botched effort to hire an internal auditor, the Fort Smith Board of Directors is looking for answers as to why they claim to not have known the auditor candidate faced felony charges.

The board on Tuesday (April 29) will hold a special meeting before a regular study session during which the listed purpose is to “Discipline or Terminate Chief Human Resources Officer.” The city’s HR director is Rick Lolley and he has held the job since June 2018. Prior to that he was in compliance and human relations for 18 years with Rheem manufacturing in Fort Smith.

The board on April 22 unanimously approved a resolution to hire Rebecca Cowan for the position of internal auditor with an annual salary of $110,000. On April 23, Talk Business & Politics was the first to report that Cowan faced felony charges related to a 2024 stalking charge. Cowan, who is scheduled for court in Poteau on May 21, is charged with a felony but is not a convicted felon.

On April 24, the board met in a special called session to rescind the resolution to hire Cowan. Board members interviewed by Talk Business & Politics said they were not aware of Cowan’s legal situation prior to the April 22 vote.

However, there were members of city administration who did know about Cowan’s background.

“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 April 23 by Josh Buchfink, the city’s public relations manager.

It is unclear if the board has the power to fire Lolley. According to city code, the city administrator, a job now held by Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, has “full power and responsibility” for the hiring and firing of city department heads. The board has direct hiring and firing authority only over the city administrator and internal auditor.

The city code notes: ’Except as otherwise provided by law, except as provided otherwise in this article, and except for his own job position, the city administrator shall have full power and responsibility concerning the employment, disciplining, and termination of employment of all officials and non-uniformed employees of the city, including, but not limited to, heads of city departments, the fire chief, and the police chief, according to the budgeting of positions and levels of compensation established from time to time by the board of directors.”

Also, board members have said they intend to begin a new search for internal auditor – a position open since April 1, 2024 – without using an executive search firm. The city hired SGR, a Keller, Texas-based executive recruitment firm, to help recruit candidates for the internal auditor post. City Director Christina Catsavis said during the April 24 special meeting that she wanted to investigate the agreement with SGR. She said after the meeting that she will push for the city to conduct its own search for an internal auditor.

Director Lee Kemp also wants to review the city’s policy on background checks in the hiring process.

“What we will be discussing I think in the future, hopefully, is a policy in regards to background checks for any hires for the city of Fort Smith,” Kemp said.

When asked if background checks are not already part of the process, Kemp responded, “I don’t know if it is, but we are going to clarify it.”

Fort Smith reporter Tina Dale contributed to this report.