His hearing was initially set for May 8; then on May 7, it was pushed back to May 14.
Childs accepted Fields’ letter of resignation on May 13. He said a confidential person had informed him that someone might be looking through his emails.
“At that point, you just started looking through computer files,” Childs said.
Information Technology specialists were able to determine that a computer matching Field’s IP address had accessed Childs’ email three times on April 28, Childs said.
Childs said that Fields’ building and computer access were revoked when he was given the notice for the pre-disciplinary hearing.
“Literally while the meeting was going on, his badge access and computer access were removed,” Childs said.
Colleen Taylor, law director for the city of Hamilton, said that this was the first instance of known unauthorized email access for city employees. Neither she nor Childs knew what Fields’ objectives were.
“We don’t know exactly what he was looking for,” Taylor said. “But he wasn’t doing anything inappropriate.”
Taylor said that while the city could have refused Fields’ resignation and continued with the pre-disciplinary hearing, it was better to accept his resignation considering Fields was a civil service employee.
“Assuming he was terminated, he could have had an appeal afterward,” she said. “This way, he can move on, and we can move on.”
Utilities Customer Relations Manager Gerald Flick offered his resignation effective immediately on May 13, the same day that Fields’ resignation was accepted, Flick had worked for the Electric Department since 1996. Neither Childs nor Taylor would comment as to whether the two departures were related. Flick did not have any disciplinary matters listed in his personnel records.
City Manager Joshua Smith would not comment on either resignation, saying only that he was aware that they had both resigned last week. Neither Fields nor Flick could be reached for comment.
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