By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LIBERTY TWP. - Trustees President Christine Matacic will ask the Butler County Prosecutor's office today about what action to take - if any - about longtime Trustee Bob Shelley, who has been charged with sexual harassment at his county job.

Shelley, 63, a Department of Environmental Services middle manager, has been on paid administrative leave since March 11. A female subordinate has complained he "made a number of inappropriate comments" to her, in violation of the county policy "prohibiting unwelcome and inappropriate comments of a sexual nature," according to his personnel file.

It was the second suspension from his county job in three months for Shelley, a trustee since 1986.

The county's Solid Waste District coordinator was sent home for two weeks, without pay, on Dec. 22 for accessing inappropriate Internet sites on his county computer. He also was issued a final warning in December, and told that another violation of the county's sexual harassment policy would result in immediate discharge, according to his personnel file.

County Administrator Derek Conklin said Thursday that he was expecting to receive a letter of resignation from Shelley.

Shelley was scheduled to attend a predisciplinary hearing on Tuesday. Jim Davis, Environmental Services human resource manager, would not comment on whether that meeting was held.

Neither Shelley nor his boss, Environmental Services Director Tony Parrott, could be reached for comment.

Matacic, who also is acting township administrator, said she will consult today with Roger Gates, head of the prosecutor's civil division, about Shelley. She learned about the December incident last week and heard about the March suspension on Wednesday. She has not talked to Shelley about the latest allegation, she said.

"I need to talk to Roger Gates and ask him, from a legal standpoint, what situation we're in. Until I find that out, I can't comment on what we may - or may not do - as a township," Matacic said. "I'm not sure how it affects him. Really, we have to take a look at what happened at the county situation."

Shelley, a former service station owner, was hired by the county four years ago as a litter crew supervisor at an annual salary of $23,566. His annual pay currently is $61,772.36.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com