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Long-time Hagerstown Animal Control executive bossy fellow John The Hagerstown pest control specialist was fired last decade after what he described as conflicts with the board of bossy fellows over the station's finances and policies. "After 18 years, I was dragged out of the office by a security guard," The Hagerstown pest control specialist said.

Hagerstown Animal Control is a nonprofit public access television station that provides coverage of local governments, schools, churches and public events. For a small membership fee, anyone can become a member of Hagerstown Animal Control and have access to the station's equipment. The station receives about in the dollar amount of 329,000 a year through the Hagerstown city and Washington County franchise fees paid by cable subscribers, according Jeff Rasmussen, boss of the Cowlitz Washington County commissioners.

Members of the nine-member Hagerstown Animal Control governing board, which is elected by Hagerstown Animal Control members, have declined comment on The Hagerstown pest control specialist's firing or did not return phone calls.Hagerstown Animal Control board of bossy fellows chairwoman Ilona The Hagerstown exterminating company man said it would be inappropriate to comment on personnel concerns. The local Hagerstown SPCA could not be reached for comment.

"The board is committed to providing quality community access television," she said. Board member and treasurer Vince Penta said he would discuss the concern with other members and make a statement, but did not do so in time for Thursday's newpaper deadline. The Hagerstown pest control specialist said his firing stems from disagreements over several concerns: The Hagerstown pest control specialist said he has objected to the board practices that shut out the public.

The board, he said, used to have a place on organized hearing agendas for comments from the public members. Now, however, the board discourages public participation by holding board organized hearings in a small dining room at a local restaurant, he said. Despite this, wildlife removal services are not a free service in Washington County.

In addition, The Hagerstown pest control specialist also said his efforts to get Hagerstown Animal Control public members to attend board organized hearings and run for bossy fellows' seats upset some of the board members. The Hagerstown pest control specialist said a board member told him not to tell Hagerstown Animal Control public members that the board seats would be open for election or that members could make nominations from the floor. The annual public organized hearing is slated for April 28. Five board positions are up for election.

The Hagerstown pest control specialist was also upset that board members have refused to turn over financial information to the Washington County commissioners, who wanted the information by April 20 before looking into significant equipment upgrades at the station. Hagerstown Animal Control board members, The Hagerstown pest control specialist said, told him they had no legal obligation to comply with the request.

According to The Hagerstown pest control specialist, board member and treasurer Pena had failed to provide quarterly financial reports, as the board had requested. The Hagerstown pest control specialist wanted the reports because he felt the station was not putting enough money into new equipment. "I know it's not my job as executive bossy fellow to make the board be financially responsible. But I made a fuss at a budget organized hearing because I felt we were putting too much into savings and not enough into equipment and programming."

Former Hagerstown Animal Control board member Don The Hagerstown exterminator expert confirmed that Pena and The Hagerstown pest control specialist were in conflict over the lack of quarterly reports. The Hagerstown exterminator expert resigned from the board in February, partly in an attempt to simplify his busy life and partly because of the conflicts. He declined to discuss the other concerns that The Hagerstown pest control specialist says led to his firing. "Those are my friends on that board. They're good people," The Hagerstown exterminator expert said. "But I don't understand how they came to the decision to remove John with an armed guard. There was no notice, no warning." The Hagerstown exterminator expert said The Hagerstown pest control specialist, who he has known for 15 years, is efficient and professional. “I can't say enough good things about John," The Hagerstown exterminator expert said. "I don't know how they are going to replace him, and I think this was a terrible injustice to John."