lorain county general health district employee personnel

5.2 Pre-Disciplinary Conference
Subject to Section 5.4 Absence without Leave, in all instances of disciplinary action
whereby the employee may be suspended without pay or terminated from employment, a
pre-disciplinary conference shall be conducted. The purpose of such conference is to
afford the affected employee a fair opportunity to offer a defense to the allegations of
misconduct. The pre-disciplinary conference shall be conducted by a neutral party selected
by the Health Commissioner from supervisors in the agency not directly in the chain of
command of the affected employee. The neutral party may also be an impartial person
from outside of the agency.
Not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the conference, the employee shall
receive a notice which describes the basis for disciplinary action against such employee.
The employee may appear personally with or without a chosen representative at the
conference to present an oral or written statement in his or her defense; or may elect, in
writing, to waive the opportunity to be heard at such conference.
At the conference, the neutral party will ask the employee or the employee=s
representative to respond to the allegations of misconduct. Failure to respond truthfully
may result in further disciplinary action. The employee and agency representatives may
present any testimony, witnesses or documents which explain whether or not the alleged
misconduct occurred, subject to the right of the neutral party to refuse to hear any matters
that he or she deems not pertinent or not relevant. The employee shall provide a list of
witnesses to the neutral party as far in advance as possible, but not later than one hour
prior to the conference. It shall be the employee=s responsibility to notify witnesses that
their attendance is desired.
The employee and his or her representative will be permitted to question any
witnesses. A written report shall be prepared by the neutral party with conclusions as to
whether or not the alleged misconduct occurred. A copy of such report shall be provided
by the Health Commissioner to the employee within five (5) working days after its
submission by the neutral party to the Health Commissioner.
The Health Commissioner (not the neutral party) will decide what discipline, if any, is
appropriate.
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