A Connecticut man who worked for the county for about a week late last year has been paid $5,000 for his time and travel expenses.

Butler County Commissioners were poised to approve the terms of a contract for Thomas Morrison III as the county’s finance director on Dec. 27 to replace Pete Landrum, who took a position in Delhi Twp. But the agenda item was pulled at the last minute and the Hartford, Conn., resident was not hired.

An extensive background check turned up questions about an incident in Morrison’s past employment, commissioners said. There was nothing criminal in Morrision’s background, according to Gary Sheets, county human resources director.

“After a more comprehensive examination it was concluded he wasn’t the right fit,” County Administrator Charles Young said. “We certainly wish Mr. Morrison well.”

A settlement agreement approved by the commission states, “upon receipt and review of the results of the background check concerning Morrision’s prior employment, etc., Young determined that Morrision was not a suitable person to be employed as the county finance director and withdrew the conditional offer.”

The $5,000 paid to Morrison was for travel and lodging expenses and for any work he was doing during the tryout period, even though the commission had not formally approved his employment.

Young said he was given a conditional offer and as county administrator he has the authority to authorize a start date for an employee without formal action by the commission. The contract would have been addressed by the commission retroactively.

“He did begin before the official vote. The formal action would have been taken retroactively. There is an understanding any contract is contingent on a majority vote by commission,” Young said.

Commissioner Don Dixon, who was president when Morrison was brought to the county, said it is not uncommon for people to begin before formal action.

“It is not ordinary, but it is not that uncommon. The action will get publicly address at some point,” Dixon said, noting Morrison’s hiring was discussed in executive session.

Dixon, Young and Commission Cindy Carpenter all pointed out Morrison began working at a time when the county had three pending vacancies in the finance department.

“We were in a critical situation and the position is a very important one for the county,” Carpenter said, noting the process was atypical.

“Under a different set of circumstances, it would not have occurred this way,” Carpenter said, but added Young does have the authority to let employees begin work based on a contingent offer.

While Morrison did attend a meeting with Carpenter and Young at a West Chester Twp. company, for the most part he was just familiarizing himself with the county’s budgeting system, according to commissioners.

“He was not in a decision making role,” Carpenter said. “He was not part of the inter circle or had access to any type of confidential information.”

The commission went a different route when moving Susanna Merlone into the finance director job. The terms of Merlone’s contract were approved, but Merlone is in the office on a 30-day trial basis before the employment is finalized. Her salary is set at $93,000 annually.

Morrison could not be reached for comment.