LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved to finalize the reinstatement of a correctional officer who was terminated last year for matters unrelated to her job.

Following another closed session on the matter on Tuesday, the board emerged to approve the findings of fact in the case of Melissa Wallahan, putting final approval on a hearing officer’s recommendations to give Wallahan her job back and granting her appeal. The vote was 5-0.

County Counsel Anita Grant said the findings of fact remain confidential.

On March 6, Wallahan – along with her attorney Sean Howell – spoke to the board in open session before the board adjourned to a confidential discussion.

The board emerged at that meeting and made a unanimous intended decision to reinstate Wallahan.

The supervisors also found that there was no justification for termination and agreed o the recommendation to give her pay extending back to her termination date, which was June 22, 2011, as Lake County News has reported.

Grant said Tuesday afternoon that the board considered the matter pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the Lake County Correctional Officers Association and the county.

The language of that document makes the board’s decision final.

Grant said the board went through the hearing officer’s decision and considered it carefully before taking action.

“They’ve followed through with their obligation to make a decision,” she said.

Howell told Lake County News this week that Wallahan was terminated because of an off-duty legal matter. He said the termination occurred despite he and Wallahan having reached a verbal agreement with Sheriff Frank Rivero the previous month on steps to take to clear up the issue.

On Monday Howell had sent the board a letter asking for assistance, saying Rivero had not responded to any of his communications regarding when Wallahan could go back to work.

Howell guaranteed Wallahan would continue fighting for her job if Rivero refused. Under the terms of the county agreement with the correctional officers union, the sheriff cannot refuse unless he’s willing to pursue court action.

As for the sheriff complying with the board’s decision, “We have every reason to expect that the employee will be allowed to come back to work,” Grant said.

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