VILLA HILLS — More than a month after Mayor Steve Clark abruptly fired Police Chief Michael “Corky” Brown and City Clerk Sue Kramer, the two have yet to collect unemployment benefits, because someone in City Hall failed to send the required paperwork to the unemployment office.

        “The unemployment people told Corky that a form that was to be returned by the city was not,” said lawyer Steve Wolnitzek, who is representing Mr. Brown. “As a result, neither Mrs. Kramer nor Mr. Brown can receive their unemployment checks.”

        Mr. Brown and Mrs. Kramer, a 13-year city employee and the wife of Councilman Bob Kramer, were fired Dec. 28 by Mr. Clark for reasons he has not divulged.

        Mr. Clark has maintained that under state law he has the power to fire city employees.

        But at council's regular meeting later this month, members will decide on asking a Kenton County Circuit Court Judge to determine whether Mr. Clark acted properly when he dismissed Mr. Brown and Mrs. Kramer.

        Mr. Wolnitzek said Mr. Brown filed his claim Jan. 3.

        However, an unemployment insurance form that the city was supposed to send to the local unemployment office within 10 days was not returned, so the 16-year police chief has not been able to collect unemployment.

        Tim Frodge, who manages the Covington and Florence unemployment offices, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

        Bob McWilliams, assistant director of the division of unemployment insurance for Kentucky, was not familiar with Mr. Brown and Mrs. Kramer's claims.

        However, when an employer fails to respond to the notice that a worker has filed an unemployment claim, Mr. McWilliams said usual practice is to set up a teleconference between the former employer, the dismissed employee and the local unemployment office to determine if the fired employee is eligible for unemployment benefits.

        Mr. Wolnitzek said that the local unemployment office will confer with Villa Hills officials next Wednesday.

        Interim City Clerk Mary Breetz said Thursday that she doesn't remember opening any correspondence from the unemployment office. However, if she had, Ms. Breetz said that she would have given it to Mr. Clark.

        Mr. Clark declined comment on the matter through Ms. Breetz, until he could consult with Interim City Attorney Mike Duncan. Mr. Duncan could not be reached for comment Thursday.

        “If it was done intentionally, that's a bad thing,” said Councilman Mike Sadouskas. “And if these papers got to the city building, and somehow, they fell into a black hole, we've still got some issues,” Mr. Sadouskas said. “Either way, it's a bad thing.”

        For about a year, Mr. Clark and the council majority have battled over a number of issues. There also has been a criminal investigation into whether Mr. Clark improperly spent city funds — a probe that ended last fall with no charges brought — and a state audit questioning $44,000 in spending by city officials.

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