Blind Commission Official Fired

Cris Covelli, who has been administrator for the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired just since July, was fired Friday.

The Commission had an executive session teleconference Friday morning, then emerged from behind closed doors just after noon to vote to terminate Covelli.

Deputy Attorney General Terry Coffin said the vote was unanimous to place Covelli, 45, on paid administrative leave until the close of business on Jan. 9, at which time his employment would end.

Mike Blackaller was placed on administrative leave by Covelli last week. On Friday, the commission reversed that action and named Blackaller acting administrator. Maggie Starkovich, also suspended by Covelli last week, was reinstated by the commission.

Paul Sharrai of Twin Falls, chairman of the commission, could not be reached for comment.

Covelli charged commission members with micro-management of the agency, illegal meetings with staff members and with conflicts of interest.

When he took over, Covelli said he saw a number of problems in the way the agency had been administered, and made changes.

“I have observed several things that were very questionable. They gave me lots of reasons for concern,” he said. “I expressed them to the board and that was part of the reason they fired me.”