A former Butler County Area Agency on Aging worker is claiming she was unjustly fired.

Jo Donaldson of Center Township, who was a nonunion supervisor, said in an interview she did nothing wrong.

“I did follow proper protocol,” she said.

As part of her former duties, Donaldson investigated claims of unsafe environments for seniors.

In this case, Donaldson petitioned Butler County Court to grant an emergency guardianship for a person suffering from dementia.

“I felt it was necessary to ensure the safety of the person,” she said.

Donaldson said the agency received a complaint that the caretaker was leaving the senior home alone for 18 hours each day.

“The primary caretaker had made no arrangements,” she said.

Donaldson said the names of caretaker and the senior can’t be released.

A few days after the court granted an emergency guardianship, which is a temporary measure, Donaldson was suspended with pay in April.

After a personnel hearing was held April 26, Donaldson was fired via a letter.

She said the county’s disciplinary process is flawed.

Donaldson said the county should not suspend employees before an internal hearing is held — as was done in her case.

“The interesting thing to note is it’s a pre-disciplinary hearing,” she said. “Suspension is a disciplinary action.”

Donaldson said the agency could have restricted her to other tasks that are not related to protection services for seniors.

According to Donaldson, she was never told what she did wrong only that proper procedures were not followed.

“They offered absolutely nothing at the hearing,” she said. “They never said this is what I did wrong.”

Donaldson pointed out she’s receiving unemployment checks despite the county’s claim of a justified firing.

“I did get my unemployment because they could not show I broke the rules,” she said.

The county still could appeal the unemployment compensation.

Donaldson said the only difference between this case and six other emergency guardianships that occurred during her 18-month tenure as a supervisor was that the primary caretaker threatened litigation.

“I was informed the person was going to file a lawsuit,” she said.

Beth Herold, Area Agency on Aging administrator, along with county personnel director Lori Altman and county solicitor Mike English declined to comment.

Donaldson said she had not spoken with the senior’s caretaker before petitioning the court. “In all honesty, I didn’t talk to the caretaker,” she said.

While Herold wouldn’t comment on Donaldson’s case, she spoke about proper procedure in petitioning the court for an emergency guardianship.

“Every effort must be made to contact the primary caretaker,” Herold said.

Donaldson countered by saying the regulations don’t specifically state the primary caretaker must be notified before petitioning the court.

According to Wesley Culp, press aide for the state Department of Aging, the regulations are interpreted to mean the primary caretaker should be contacted.

“While not specific to require contact of the primary caretaker, (the) code does require protective service workers to interview relevant parties,” Culp stated in an e-mail. “It is widely accepted best practice to contact primary caretakers, powers of attorney and/or other family.”

County Commissioner Bill McCarrier supports the way AAA handled the situation.

“I trust our department heads,” he said.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed.

“I believe our management people followed the proper procedures,” Pinkerton said.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein did not concur, saying he interviewed Donaldson to get her side of the story.

“They violated her rights,” Eckstein said.

Donaldson agreed.

“The county has policies in place that don’t make sense,” she said.

Donaldson said the county is inconsistent in applying disciplinary action, with some employees retaining their jobs after committing clear violations.

She is talking with attorneys in Pittsburgh about her firing.

Donaldson praised Eckstein for being the sole commissioner who got her side of the story.

“He was the only one who reached out,” she said.

Donaldson admitted being accused of committing two other infractions, including not knowing what her subordinates were doing, before the one that led to her firing.

She questioned why her direct supervisor wasn’t admonished for not being aware of what she was doing.

Donaldson worked nearly 13 years for the county and the prior 12 years as a subcontractor for the county.

Herold and the agency’s clinical deputy are handling Donaldson’s former workload.