Nevada dental board to debate whether to fire top executives, again

Six newly appointed members of the Nevada Board of Dental Examiners are scheduled to meet Jan. 17 to discuss whether two of the board's executives should be terminated, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

At the end of last year, the dental board's Executive Director Debra Shaffer-Kugel and general counsel Melanie Berstein Chapman were terminated for alleged ethical lapses. While their termination was effective Dec. 5, the two continue to serve and collect paychecks.

Ms. Shaffer-Kugel and Ms. Melanie Bernstein Chapman were terminated by Gov. Steve Sisolak for "displaying a lack of oversight and accountability." However, Nevada law states that only dental board members can fire members.

An investigation by the Review-Journal found that the board members failed to revoke licenses of dentists accused of injuring patients. Additionally, board members were accused of conflicts of interest and failing to follow open meeting regulations.

At the upcoming meeting, the board will finalize Ms. Shaffer-Kugel and Ms. Chapman's contracts, job status and possible separation agreements.

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