‘No controversy on my end’: Dorian leaving Central Services position with city of Hannibal to join Hannibal Regional Hospital

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Andy Dorian is leaving his position of director of Central Services for the city of Hannibal to become the director of campus development at Hannibal Regional Hospital.

He says he isn’t leaving because he’s upset with the city administration.

A July 7 letter from Dorian’s city email account to Hannibal city officials was circulated on Monday to members of the media by 3^rd Ward alderman Stephan Franke. Dorian wrote he was upset that City Clerk Angel Zerbonia was getting an 8 percent bump in salary despite her office being fully staffed. He called it a “slap in the face.”

“This is insane,” Dorian wrote. “I too was getting an 8 percent bump last year filling in for all the lost people at City Hall. As everyone knows, I was going numerous jobs at once. Since we are fully staffed now, I am no longer receiving this 8 percent bump, which is how it should be.

“With that said, I have taken on numerous additional duties that are not part of my job description over the last two years. This year, I asked for a 5 percent bump instead of the standard 3 percent bump for these duties, so a simple 2 percent increase. This was approved by Lisa (Peck, city manager) and approved by the full City Council as part of the pay ordinance. I have been fully transparent with this request. With that said, I will be glad to give back that 2 percent back in exchange for not taking on these extra duties.”

Dorian wrote that he could no longer work in an environment where Zerbonia is allowed to do “whatever she wants and to make life hell for the rest of the employees.” He said he was going to start looking for employment elsewhere.

When Dorian was contacted Tuesday, he said the July 7 email did not affect his decision to take the new job.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I was literally just looking to do something different,” he said. “I’ve been on call for 24/7 for 15 years. I’ve got little kids, so an opportunity came up that, honestly, I couldn’t pass on. I was just excited to go do something else. I’m staying in Hannibal.

“There is absolutely no controversy on my end. I am disappointed that an internal issue within our organization has become public. Numerous employees, including the department heads, were able to voice their concerns in two follow-up meetings. We all considered the situation closed. (The email about Zerbonia) did not weigh on this decision at all. If this other opportunity didn’t come up, I’d still be here for another 10 years.”

Dorian said his first day at Hannibal Regional Hospital is Dec. 12.

“I’ve been on their foundation board forever, and I’ve got a great relationship with them,” he said.

Franke said Dorian’s institutional knowledge after 15 years of working for the city and his connection to the community is “second to none.” He called him “irreplaceable.”

“Retaining quality officials who create a work environment for employees in which they are treated with respect that enhances our delivery of services to our constituents with accountability and transparency is a priority of mine,” Franke said.

Franke has been embroiled in his own controversy with Zerbonia for a year and a half.

Mayor James Hark brought impeachment charges against Franke in January, resulted in Franke’s immediate suspension. Hark alleged Franke violated his oath of office while acting in his capacity as an alderman by physically assaulting two female city employees.

The articles of impeachment, written by Hark, said Franke grabbed the arms of both women “in a non-consensual manner,” causing pain to one woman. The articles also stated that in his actions as councilman, “Franke has made statements to female employees of the city which constitute sexual harassment, and which created a hostile workplace” for Zerbonia, Peck and former city employee Edie Graupman. An amended articles resolution was filed in March.

Tenth Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge Rachel L. Bringer Shepherd ruled June 27 the City of Hannibal violated the constitutional right of due process for Franke, who then was reinstated as the 3^rd Ward alderman.

Franke has said the allegations in the impeachment were retaliation against him resulting from his December 2020 request that a third-party human resources consultant come in and do objective exit interviews of people who report to Zerbonia and Peck.

Dorian, who previously was the director of the Hannibal Parks and Recreation Department, thanked many people who he called mentors — former police chief Lyndell Davis, former fire chief Bill Madore, former city manager Jeff LaGarce, Tom Boland and Peck. 

“I have been lucky to work with the best group of department heads any city could ask for and truly consider all of them friends for life,” he said. “I have accomplished more during the last 15 years than I ever could have imagined when I first started, including the Riverfront Restoration Project and the addition of the Sodalis Nature Preserve. I could never have completed these projects without the support of Mayor Roy Hark and Mayor Jim Hark, as well as all the Park Board members and city councilmen over the years.

“The citizens of Hannibal have always welcomed me as one of their own. I have made so many friendships along the way. I love the city of Hannibal, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dates regarding the impeachment of Franke have been corrected from a previous version of this story.