Fayette County Commissioners Dismiss Longtime Chief Clerk Amy Liston

The Fayette County commissioners have officially terminated their longtime chief clerk, Amy Liston, following a heated public comment session in which she criticized the decision. Liston, who held the position for over 13 years, recounted the circumstances of her dismissal during the commissioners’ voting meeting on November 2, 2023.

According to Liston, on October 28, two human resources workers and a sheriff’s deputy entered her office, presented her with a termination letter signed by all three commissioners, and escorted her out of the building. In her remarks, she asserted, “I would say it wasn’t my job performance. It was politics and personality.”

Liston maintained that she diligently fulfilled her responsibilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, often attending virtual meetings while unwell. She noted that while her termination letter referenced her job performance, it failed to provide specific examples of any disciplinary actions or negative reviews. “I was told once I was too frank. So apparently frankness, or honesty, is not valued by these commissioners,” she stated.

Commissioners Respond to Termination

Following Liston’s comments, commissioners Scott Dunn, Harry Dutch Kaufman, and Vince Vicites voted unanimously to approve her dismissal. Dunn refrained from providing detailed comments on the personnel decision but confirmed that Liston’s responsibilities have been redistributed among other staff members in the interim. “Her duties have been distributed to other people temporarily, and we have not hired anyone to replace her,” Dunn explained.

The role of chief clerk encompasses several key functions, including assisting the commissioners, developing the county budget, preparing meeting agendas, and managing public open records requests.

A job posting for the chief clerk position was made available on the county’s website on November 14, 2023, with the application period closing just before midnight on November 17.

Liston, who transitioned from a career in journalism, previously worked as a reporter for the Observer-Reporter and Herald-Standard newspapers before being appointed chief clerk in April 2012. Her departure marks a significant change in Fayette County’s administrative landscape, raising questions about the future direction of the county’s governance and management.