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A handful of recent staffing changes at the Montana Department of Commerce is raising eyebrows.

At the Economic Affairs Committee meeting in Helena on Friday, MT State Senator Roy Brown of Billings asked Department director Dore Schwinden to talk about the turnover.

Brown said, "Some have stated that their retirement or resignation papers have been forced upon these people to get around a wrongful discharge problem. Do you know of any others that might have been asked to sign undated resignation papers as a condition of employment or appointment to a position?"

Schwinden replied, "I do not know of any such thing in my present employment or in any employment in any state agency that I have ever served in in government."

Four high-level employees have either retired, quit, or been fired since March, including David Cole, former administrator with the Community Development Division; Tony Preite, former director of the Department of Commerce; Betsy Baumgart, administrator of the Office of Tourism; and Barb Charlton, head of human resources.