“PART 1 ” – The audio. Of interest would be at the 59:40 mark. I’ve lost count of the number of county meetings I have attended – it may not get any WORSE than this.

This post at Brown County Matters.

Pretty confusing but as I understand it, the interim commissioner Blake Wolpert (at the likely urging of the GOP leadership represented at the meeting by Robyn Rosenberg Bowman), proposed downgrading the HR Director position held by Laura Wert to that of a coordinator reporting to the new “commissioner assistant” at less pay without any discussion or approval by all of the commissioners.  Wolpert and the GOP leadership advocated for this new “commissioner assistant” position that the council and commissioners agreed to last fall, was not needed.

Defunding of HR – Letter signed by Pittman, Wolpert, and Reeves.

Hostile Work Environment?  Imagine being a county employee and first learning that your position was unfunded and being eliminated at a public meeting.   I think this may qualify as creating conditions leading to a hostile work environment putting the county at risk of a lawsuit. A situation that most citizens might likely determine is warranted to include demanding the resignation of Interim Commissioner Woklpert.

• • The value of legal action is discovery and depositions. Depositions involve questioning under oath,  the individuals that have been involved in the decisions and supporting actions.  And, the county can choose to “weaponize” the legal process that includes actions with the intent to add costs and delays.   This may inspire citizens to help fund the legal costs.  Maybe a good issue leading to the 2024 primaries.

Not so Fast. Commissioner Ron Sanders immediately challenged the proposal and process. Sanders was not the preferred candidate of the local GOP regime and is excluded from many meetings where decisions are being made in possible violation of Indiana open meeting laws.  The HR director (Laura Wert) whose position was proposed to be eliminated, also ran afoul of the local GOP by running (without support from the local GOP) as an unsuccessful independent candidate for clerk.  When she was selected for the HR Director position, she may have become a target for removal. Welcome to small-town politics and likely corruption.

Not True.  Commissioner Pittman and Wolpert stated that the HR Director position was defunded by the County Council. This was NOT TRUE,  possibly made with the intent to influence the vote supporting the revised position.   President of the Commissioners,  Jerry Pittman, chose not to call for a formal vote.

DRAFTs Position Descriptions.  Commissioner Pittman stated that employees were not entitled to see proposed position descriptions until after they had been approved. Drafts of the proposed and revised commissioner assistant position was distributed to employees.  More clarity needed on this issue.

Request for Information (RFI).  I informed the commissioner that I would be submitting a formal request for information regarding this decision.  This includes requesting copies of all emails, phone calls, and text messages with individuals related to this decision to include copies of all the drafts or the proposed position descriptions.

A  suggestion to commsioners?   Stand down and apologize. Interim Commissioner Wolpert should immediately resign. This may mitigate legal risk and will provide the 11 Republican Precinct Committee Chairs a second chance to get it right.