Judge gives Dover mayor until Thursday to explain why he fired employees
DOVER (WJER) (February 21, 2021) – An Administrative Law Judge for the State Personnel Board of Review is asking Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen to explain why he fired three employees in December.
Dover City Council and Law Director Doug O’Meara had worked out a settlement with those three employees. They had appealed their terminations to the state review board.
Council and O’Meara agreed the terminations violated whistleblower protection laws and the employees should get their jobs back.
Homrighausen is trying to stop that by filing a motion to intervene in the state review board case. He argues what Council and O’Meara are doing is unenforceable, illegal and undermines his authority.
In a response, provided to WJER by O’Meara, Administrative Law Judge Raymond M. Geis gave Homrighausen until Thursday to file an optional affidavit, with supporting documents, “articulating his purported legitimate non-discriminatory business reasons for terminating the employment of the three appellants, if any.”
Geis says if the mayor doesn’t produce “a genuine issue of material fact as to the reasons for the Appellants’ terminations,” it could lead to a finding of illegal discrimination by the mayor under state whistleblower protection laws.
Dover City Council meets Monday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82372159072
ALJ order in employee appeal SPBR city of Dover