Jim Eckstein

Butler County recently received the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint filed by the county chief clerk, alleging she was the target of discrimination by Commissioner Jim Eckstein because she is female.

Amy Wilson initially filed the complaint in December, but the county did not receive the full complaint until recently.

In it, Wilson alleges that Eckstein discriminated against her based on her sex, in violation with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and said she has suffered retaliation for reporting his conduct.

Wilson has been the chief clerk since November 2012. She first was hired by the county in 2008 as Commissioner Dale Pinkerton’s administrative assistant.

Wilson initially filed a sex discrimination complaint with the county in December 2012. She said in the EEOC complaint that she had been subjected to hostile behavior from Eckstein since that filing.

In the complaint Wilson said Eckstein exhibits similar behavior with other female county employees.

The complaint alleges that Eckstein focused on her time sheets from when she worked as Pinkerton’s administrative assistant

It also says that Eckstein wrote a disciplinary warning for Wilson alleging “unsatisfactory conduct,” saying her use of vacation time was irresponsible. Wilson said that the vacation time she took was approved and consistent with county policy.

Wilson also said Eckstein in November 2014 proposed cutting her pay following the sale of the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She said Eckstein provided no basis for a pay cut.

In response, Eckstein said he is “innocent.”

“These are false and malicious claims without merit,” Eckstein said.

He said the sole purpose of the complaint is to denigrate him and his family.

“I thought citizens of the United States were innocent until proven guilty. Has the law changed?” Eckstein said.