In a split vote, the Jerome Township trustees approved a written reprimand against Fire Chief Douglas Stewart.
Trustees Megan Sloat and Wezlynn Davis voted during their most recent meeting to adopt the reprimand, while Trustee Barry Adler voted against it.
“I disagree with the entire contents of the written reprimand,” Adler said during the meeting. “The employee has the right to provide a written dispute to the contents of the written reprimand by submitting a statement in writing to be placed in their employee file.”
Following the meeting, Adler declined to comment further on his dissent but reiterated that he “respectfully disagreed with the contents of the written reprimand.”
Stewart declined to provide a comment to the Journal-Tribune but said he intends to file a formal rebuttal against the reprimand.
The trustees did not name the recipient of the reprimand during the meeting or elaborate on its content. It was adopted under a portion of the agenda titled “township employment matters.”
The Journal-Tribune obtained the document through a public records request filed with the township.
The reprimand, which is dated Aug. 16, indicates the Board of Trustees “became aware of (Stewart’s) conduct exhibited during a recent confrontation with another township employee, and that conduct violated various sections of the township’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.”
The reprimand indicated Stewart allegedly violated three sections of the manual.
They include:
– “No official or employee shall… use or disclose confidential information protected by law, unless appropriately authorized.”
– “Each employee should be especially careful that they do not engage in gossip, half-truths or the release of confidential information pertaining to the township or its operations, employees, customers and residents.”
– “’Verbal assault for the purposes of intimidation and/or coercion’ is inappropriate conduct that is prohibited.”
The written reprimand advises Stewart that failure to adhere to the personnel manual “could result in other disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, suspension, reduction in rank or removal pursuant to Ohio Revised Code.”
Although Stewart signed the document, it notes that a signature indicates “you neither affirm nor deny guilt but only acknowledge receipt of this written reprimand.”