Wisconsin county ponders reinstating dead worker

Brown County supervisors are considering giving a public works employee who was fired before he died his job back.

The supervisors' executive committee will vote Monday on reinstating Robert Welsing Jr., Press-Gazette Media reported. If the committee approves reinstatement, the full board will vote on Aug. 17.

Welsing, a highway superintendent, was fired in August 2015 by county officials who said he used profanity, interfered with an investigation and falsified time cards. Another public works employee also was fired at the same time.

A hearing officer wrote that the penalty may have been more severe than what he would have chosen but the county had the legal right to terminate Welsing.

Welsing died this past May after heart surgery. Supervisor Patrick Evans said he and several other supervisors weren't confident with the firings and want to help Welsing's family clear his name.

Reinstatement could have financial implications for the county. Welsing would presumably be eligible for back pay, although supervisors said they haven't asked for cost estimates yet. He also could be eligible for insurance benefits, including a death benefit. County officials wouldn't say whether he had purchased coverage, citing privacy concerns, but said full-time workers typically purchase insurance with a death benefit roughly equivalent to a year's salary. Welsing was making $67,000 a year when he was fired.

"There could be a lot at stake, including money," said executive committee member Patrick Buckley. "Emotional decisions like (reinstatement) can seem good at the time, but sometimes they have long-term consequences."