A Butler County Children and Youth Services employee says she filed an internal complaint against Commissioner Jim Eckstein to prevent further dealings with him.

“I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to interact with him,” said Michelle Green, administrative assistant to CYS director Joyce Ainsworth.

Green filed the hostile work environment complaint with the county personnel department following the Aug. 14 incident in which Eckstein tried to get a CYS caseworker’s time card.

According to Green, she was following proper procedure by telling Eckstein she couldn’t provide an employee’s time card, which upset him.

“I don’t understand why he had to act that way,” she said. “You just don’t do that.”

Eckstein, who recalled being shocked upon learning there was a complaint, denied he mistreated Green.

He accused Green of not following county policy by not providing the information he wanted.

“The rules say that,” Eckstein said.

Ainsworth disagreed, saying the commissioners are supposed to go through department heads first.

On Aug. 14, Green told Eckstein she didn’t have the authority to release any employee information to him.

“He got upset,” Green said. “He said, ‘I’m a county commissioner. You will give me a copy.’”

Eckstein said his demeanor is being misrepresented.

“I’m direct,” he said. “I don’t beat around the bush.”