Apr. 20—POTTSVILLE — A former county employee addressed the Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday, alleging mistreatment in the public defender's office before she was fired.
Merideth Hannan, of North Manheim Twp., who was fired April 14, said her supervisor and another employee treated her in "an aggressive and acrimonious manner."
She also said she endured "defamatory accusations, commentary and character attacks, which were direct hits" on her integrity and work ethic, but didn't specify whom she blamed for that. Hannan did not return a call Thursday seeking clarification.
County Administrator Gary R. Bender said Thursday that Karen L. Domalakes, the chief public defender, has the ability to hire and fire personnel.
Domalakes said Thursday she did fire Hannan and spoke to her prior to the termination. She declined further comment for legal reasons.
Hannan said she worked in domestic relations for 20 months before transferring to the public defender's office on Jan. 16.
She said she made numerous attempts to speak with interim human resources director Doreen M. Kutzler to discuss what she claims was "pervasive, abhorrent harassment and hostile malevolent work environment" in her new job before meeting with her on April 10.
"She expressed grave concern regarding my versions and stated she had to run it up the flagpole," Hannan said about Kutzler.
An employee of the human resource office said Kutzler was not in the office Thursday.
An email to Kutzler was not returned.
As part of her address to commissioners, Hannan mentioned the consent decree the county agreed to in January as part of its settlement of a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice that requires the county deploy measures designed to ensure employees are free from harassment.
The DOJ last year had joined a lawsuit filed in 2021 against Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr., other officials and the county at large but agreed to settle its portion of the suit earlier this year, with the decree conditions.
Commissioner Gary J. Hess directed solicitor Alvin B. Marshall at Wednesday's meeting to confirm that appropriate steps were taken to comply with the decree.
Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023