The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has dismissed a sexual discrimination complaint filed against Butler County.

In a June 17 letter, the EEOC adopted the April finding by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission that there was no evidence of discrimination against Margaret Abersold, administrative assistant to Commissioner Jim Eckstein.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said the county expected that decision.

“It’s not surprising,” McCarrier said. “It’s what we expected.”

Abersold said the EEOC should not have issued a ruling while her appeal to the PHRC is being reviewed.

She said it’s premature to appeal the EEOC decision.

In the complaint filed with both the EEOC and PHRC, Abersold alleged McCarrier and county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton discriminated against her in 2013.

She claimed McCarrier reprimanded her in a letter dated Jan. 4, 2013, and Pinkerton discredited her integrity and professionalism in a speech on April 10, 2013.

The PHRC in April dismissed the complaint, citing a lack of evidence.

Pinkerton said the EEOC ruling shows there were no grounds for the complaint.

“There is nothing to it,” he said.

Eckstein disagreed.

“She was discriminated against, but to what degree, I can’t decide,” he said.

Abersold filed a prior discrimination complaint in 2012 with the EEOC, alleging McCarrier, Pinkerton and three county administration employees did nothing to protect her rights during two public meetings that year.

She cited the comments by two Eckstein critics during public comment accusing her of abusing compensatory time and purposely writing erroneous meeting minutes.

In response to those complaints about Abersold, McCarrier and Pinkerton outvoted Eckstein to alter the meeting minutes.

The EEOC in December 2012 determined there was insufficient evidence of discrimination.

The 2013 complaint alleged the Jan. 4 letter and April 10 speech were retaliation for her previous complaint.

Eckstein said Abersold has the right to file such complaints.

“I think it’s the employee’s right to utilize these government agencies,” he said.