A customer service clerk with the city of Salisbury has been fired after the city discovered more than $1,000 in missing funds.

A termination letter addressed to Joe Elliott says Elliott was fired due to violations of city policies. The violations are: misappropriation of city funds, unsatisfactory work quality and failure to follow department procedure.

“At the present time we account for $1,500 of missing funds,” the letter, dated Jan. 9, reads. It says Elliott will receive an invoice for the amount and has 30 days to reimburse the city. The letter states the city will take legal action if the funds are not reimbursed.

The letter, signed by Customer Service Manager Jamie Lester, also says Elliott’s final paycheck will be used to reimburse the city.

A Post reporter spent most of Monday trying get confirmation from city officials about Elliott’s termination, but officials refused to confirm the identity of the fired employee or release his termination letter.

After City Council met to go over applicants for the the city manager position Monday, Mayor Paul Woodson met with Assistant City Manager Zack Kyle to be updated on the situation with the missing funds. The two officials then spoke to a Post reporter about the situation but would not say whether Elliott was the employee who was terminated.

The city is asking the state Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation into the missing money.

Kyle said Monday the city is uncertain how much money was taken. City officials were alerted to the missing money after a recent internal review of the city’s Customer Service Division. The division handles payments from Fibrant and water and sewer customers.

The Post sent a public records request to the city Monday afternoon seeking information about Elliott’s termination. The city answered the request Tuesday afternoon.

Elliott was hired in May of 2013 and was being paid $16 an hour.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.