NEWS

Portage County Water Resources sex discrimination case may be resolved Monday

Diane Smith
Record-Courier
Portage County Administration Building

The sex based discrimination claim of a former employee of Portage County Water Resources is likely to be resolved next week. 

Portage County commissioners will hold special meetings starting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday. "Considering and resolving the conciliation of a matter concerning a former employee of the county water resources department" is one of the items on the agenda.

Laura Weber, former deputy director of the water resources department, previously filed two complaints with the commission, claiming that Gene Roberts, who was director of the department, discriminated against her and ultimately eliminated her position and fired her. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission's regional director, Bradley Dunn, ruled earlier this year that it is "probable" that the discrimination took place and ordered "conciliation" in the case.  Roberts, who also had served as county administrator, retired from both posts at the end of 2020.

Commissioners have been discussing the matter with lawyers in executive session since the ruling.

According to letters of determination from Dunn, Weber filed two separate claims with the commission. In the first, Weber alleged discrimination "on the basis of sex, disability and retaliation" in July 2020. In that complaint, Weber said Roberts had denied a request from her and her doctor to work at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roberts, the letter stated, offered Weber an accommodation to work in the office three days a week and work from home two days, which Weber said would not work because she would be exposed to COVID more than she would have been under her regular schedule. 

On the grounds of sex, the commission found that Respondent has a workplace environment that promotes sexist beliefs, and (Weber) was the subject of sex-based comments," the letter states. "Specifically, the commission found that several employees in leadership positions hold the belief women have to choose to 'play mommy' or work and a similar view is not visited upon male employees. Additionally, the commission found that it is more likely than not Director Roberts directed such comments toward (Weber) whenever (Weber) aired a need for time off to care for her disabled children."

Dunn also wrote that Weber "made a legitimate internal complaint" to commissioners in August 2019, and commissioners directed Human Resources Director Janet Kovick to investigate. After Kovick determined that the complaint could not be substantiated, Dunn wrote that Roberts said he would take action against Weber, and began excluding her from work meetings and communications. Ultimately, Dunn wrote, he ceased transitioning Weber to director of the department because of her complaint.

Weber's position was terminated shortly after she filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission in July 2020. The water resources department, the letter states, said the position was abolished for "financial and efficiency" reasons, and the county saved $113,000 by eliminating the position. 

Mary Turocy, spokeswoman for the commission, previously said conciliation negotiations are private. Should conciliation fail, Portage County Water Resources can request "reconsideration," which is an appeals process. If that happens, the case will go to a reconsideration officer. The commission will then issue another finding and could choose to keep it as a probable cause or reverse to no probable cause. 

At least one other executive session will take place as part of Monday's meetings, which will take place at the commissioners, board room, on the seventh floor of the Portage County Administration Building, 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna.

Portage commissioners are in the process of hiring a new water resources director and have been meeting with candidates in executive session.