The executive director of the Kansas Corporation Commission no longer works for the commission.

KCC spokesman Jesse Borjon told The Topeka Capital-Journal that as of Friday, Patti Petersen-Klein is no longer employed by the commission. He did not specify if she was fired or quit.

Controversy erupted recently after a consultant’s report stated a rift had developed between Petersen-Klein and staff at the KCC, which regulates the electricity, natural gas, oil, telephone and transportation industries in Kansas.

Borjon says KCC commissioner Tom Wright made a motion to terminate Petersen-Klein in an open meeting Thursday, but that motion failed. The commission then entered closed session but adjourned without any action.

He says Jackie Montfoort-Paige, KCC’s director of administration and finance, will be executive director until the position is filled permanently.