Former administrator files suit against Hebron council, alleges contract breach
Hebron's former administrator has filed a civil lawsuit against the village's councilmembers.
Filed in Licking County Common Pleas Court on May 31, Steve DeBolt accused the council of breach of contract, asking for declaratory judgment and damages.
In his complaint, DeBolt accused the council of failing to establish a rule compliant with Ohio Revised Code 121.22(F). He alleged the council on Jan. 13, 2021 held an organizational meeting to set the date and time for regular meetings and that during that meeting, they failed to establish a reasonable method where someone could determine the time and place of regularly scheduled and special meetings, thereby violating Ohio's Open Meetings Act.
He alleged the same for the year 2022, accusing them of violating Ohio's Open Meetings Act in a separate count.
DeBolt alleged during Jan. 19, March 23, and June 24, 2020 meetings, council failed to state approved purposes for holding an executive session
In count six of the complaint, DeBolt accused councilmembers of discussing his discipline and dismissal outside an open meeting. He claimed during their June 12, 2020 meeting, of which allegedly no public notice was provided, council placed DeBolt on paid suspension.
DeBolt alleged council violated Ohio Revised Code by accepting his resignation following deliberations in a meeting that wasn't open to the public and that weren't held during an executive session. Therefore, he claimed their acceptance of his resignation is invalid.
According to DeBolt, he offered to resign from his position as village administrator effective Oct. 1, 2020, but Hebron's council accepted his resignation effective June 24, 2020.
DeBolt alleged council did not compensate him for the period of June 25-Oct. 1, 2020.
"Plaintiff is entitled to the compensation he would have earned in said period of time," the complaint states.
DeBolt then asked the court find council violated Ohio Revised Code, issue a mandatory injunction enjoining council to comply with Ohio Revised Code, an order for council to pay DeBolt a $500 civil forfeiture for each violation, award DeBolt his court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, an order for council to pay DeBolt damages in excess of $25,000 and any other relief the court deems just.
According to DeBolt's personnel file, which was obtained by The Advocate through a public records request, he took his oath of office on May 22, 2019 as Hebron's village administrator. He was paid $70,000 annually, according to his offer letter.
In an undated letter from Hebron Mayor James Layton, DeBolt was placed on paid administrative leave "pending completion of an investigation of which you are subject." The letter did not specify why DeBolt was under investigation.
In a June 23, 2020 email, DeBolt offered his resignation to care for his elderly mother and pursue an early retirement through OPERS.
According to his resume, prior to serving as Hebron's administrator, DeBolt served as village administrator for Shawnee Hills and Williamsburg, village manager for Whispering Pines, North Carolina, golf administrator/tournament director for Hyland Golf Club in North Carolina, and other positions prior to 2008.
Layton declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Former Hebron administrator files suit against village council
