On March 6, Rebecca Buddenberg, former fiscal coordinator for the Geauga County Health District, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against Health Commissioner Robert Weisdack and other county board of health members, as well as Wiesdack’s attorney, James Budzik, alleging she was retaliated against by her former employer after raising concerns about decisions made by Weisdack and the board.
Buddenberg claims Weisdack shut down communication with her, disparaged her to co-workers, and “changed her scheduled hours (which required her to quit school and limited her ability to assist with her grandson who was suffering from cancer).”
In the complaint, Buddenberg, hired in April 2016, alleges she raised a conflict of interest issue to the board of health in October 2016, telling the board Weisdack had awarded himself a no-bid contract on tire removal, avoiding oversight by Geauga County Auditor Frank Gliha.
“Specifically, the health district had obtained an Ohio EPA grant for tire removal, and in the absence of competitive bids, Mr. Weisdack, along with two health district sanitarian workers, themselves began to undertake the work themselves for pay,” the complaint states.
Buddenberg claims Weisdack proceeded with the tire removal even though the contracted amount for the work was over the $2,000 that should require the auditor’s approval.
Buddenberg’s other allegations in the complaint paint a picture of an office culture rife with bullying and wage discrimination.
In the fall of 2016, the complaint states Buddenberg was aware of disparity in wages between a male employee, Frank Varga, and a female employee, Amanda Hill. Buddenberg says Varga was paid a higher salary despite the fact they were both sanitarians-in-training and Hill was more qualified.
Other complaints in the lawsuit against Weisdack allege:
- He accepted and allowed the office to accept gifts from contractors to whom the district issued permits.
- He failed to honor the reference-check policy for new hires (important given that health district employees would represent the agency and sometimes enter private residences).
- He ignored recommendations of the employees’ health-and-safety committee (including a request for funds to install speakers in an area of the building that otherwise could not hear fire alarms).
- He “yell(ed), threaten(ed), intimidate(d), and ignore(d) the staff,” including by hanging a pacifier on his door with the words: “For those who disagree.”
The complaint also alleges Dan Mix, a 14-year employee in line to succeed Weisdack as health commissioner, was forced to resign after showing support for Buddenberg’s concerns.
A statement from Chandra Law Firm, representing Buddenberg, said Buddenberg was demoted and her position eliminated after she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and that Weisdack and Budzik “trumped up a series of petty, false and baseless accusations” against her to pressure her into dropping the discrimination charges.
It was at this point, Buddenberg said, her scheduled hours were reduced or cancelled, she was demoted to a clerical position earning less than $10.50 an hour and reporting directly to a co-worker she felt was hostile, and she was suspended from work for three days. Buddenberg resigned shortly thereafter.
“I have reviewed the lawsuit and I have referred this matter to the insurance carrier who will secure counsel for the health district,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz told the Geauga County Maple Leaf. “As far as we know, these allegations have never been reported to law enforcement. I have turned this matter over to an investigator who will perform a thorough review.”
Gliha said he had not seen the complaint and was unaware of the allegations, so could not comment at the present time.
Calls to Weisdack had not been returned as of 4 p.m. March 7.
