By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Dennis Nichols, an administrative assistant to Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox, was fired by fellow Commissioners Chuck Furmon and Greg Jolivette in a secret meeting Monday.

The two commissioners told Fox of their decision in a closed-door gathering in Jolivette's county office.

Commissioners have not taken any action in a public meeting on Nichols' termination.

Nichols, a former newspaper editor, was given 90 days to find another job, Furmon said Thursday. Hired in 1999 as Fox's assistant, Nichols also was project manager for the county's 100-mile fiber-optics network.

Asked who will oversee the fiber-optics system, Furmon said: "That's still up for debate. We haven't discussed that situation."

Furmon said he had frequently complained to Nichols and Fox that Nichols was not keeping the other commissioners informed, "so we had the same information Fox had." Nichols said he "was under the impression" that he was adequately informing Furmon about his tasks.

"I didn't think anyone was unhappy with the quality of my work. I've gotten good reviews," said Nichols, who had worked for newspapers in Mount Washington, Hamilton, West Chester and Mason.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com