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Fired director’s appeal hearing could take months

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer 5:14 PM Thursday, November 19, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — It could be months before the termination appeal of a former Clark County Auditor’s Office employee goes before an Ohio board, a state official said Thursday, Nov. 19.

Jim Sprague, State Personnel Board of Review administrative law judge, said it may be January or February before Aimee Belanger-Haas’ case makes it to a hearing.

“But it varies with each case,” Sprague said. “This case could move faster than other cases because it’s assigned to a full board rather than an administrative law judge.”

Belanger-Haas, with the county since 2004, was terminated as Geographical Information Systems director by Auditor George Sodders by Nov. 2.

She has appealed to the SPBR and told the News-Sun that she does not know why she was fired.

A review of Belanger-Haas’ personnel file, obtained by the News-Sun through a public records request, did not contain any evaluations, reprimands or demotions besides an Oct. 23, letter placing the former director on administrative leave and an Oct. 30, termination letter.

Assistant County Prosecutor Lisa Fannin is representing the auditor’s office in the case.

Fannin noted that Belanger-Haas was an unclassified employee. Unclassified employees can be terminated at-will and without cause.

“This termination was reasonable, given the facts,” Fannin added. “Those facts will be disclosed during litigation.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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There have been many County Employees that have been let go from their job. Why does the News Sun only report on the Auditor's Office. Be fair either report on all the government offices or none at all. Report the news not make the news.

whole county
8:04 PM, 11/19/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Accountability! Bottom line. Period.

KNOWITALL2
6:24 PM, 11/19/2009

REPORT ABUSE

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