Nine employees of Gainesville's Tacachale Community were laid off this week.

Leaders of Tacachale, the agency for person with disabilities, said they are simply enforcing already existing policy. Tacachale is a residential community for people with developmental disabilities.

Spokesperson Melanie Etters said residents at Tacachale are “vulnerable” and should be protected. That's why the agency has a policy that anyone who has a criminal history should not work there.

But people like James Chatman have worked at Tacachale for decades. “Why did they hire me in '84 when I gave them my credentials—that I had a record?”

Etters said the other eight employees laid off this week have 10 days to appeal.

Chatman does not have that option. He said he's talking to a lawyer.