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CITY HALL BOLI finds evidence of retaliation by Gold Hill city manager Employee alleged city manager singled her out Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 6:16 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 6:16 PM » Social News The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has found "substantial evidence" to support allegations that Gold Hill City Manager Rick Hohnbaum retaliated against a longtime city employee after she accused him of sexual harassment. BOLI investigator Charlie Burr confirmed that investigations into two charges over the past year and a half were concluded this week. "Our agency has found substantial evidence to support allegations of unlawful retaliation in both cases," Burr said, noting that the city and employee Mary Goddard, who brought the charges, would have 60 days to reach possible settlement before the case could either be closed or progress to the next level. "The cases will now move toward conciliation to see if the parties can reach a settlement. If not, the case will move to the Administrative Prosecution Unit, which will review the file before determining whether to bring formal charges." Goddard accused Hohnbaum of retaliating against her after she accused him of harassment, including an incident in which he allegedly unzipped his pants and scratched his groin. That case was settled, but Goddard later filed two additional complaints, in November 2014 and April 2015, in which she accused Hohnbaum of ongoing retaliation and said he had unfairly singled her out over issues such as work performance and use of sick time. Mayor Jan Fish, in a phone message, said it would be premature to comment on the BOLI investigation because the city "has 60 days to conclude negotiations, and nobody has made an offer or suggestion or anything yet." The city has reportedly spent more than $40,000 on legal fees to represent Hohnbaum in the case. The agency's investigation found "substantial evidence of unlawful employment practices" including: • Retaliation for opposing and reporting unlawful employment practices; • Retaliation for reporting violation of a state or federal law, rule or regulation; • Taking or threatening to take disciplinary action against an employee for the disclosure of any information that the employee reasonably believes is evidence of a violation of any federal or state law, rule or regulation. Hohnbaum, in an e-mail to the Mail Tribune, declined to comment on BOLI's investigation other than to state, "there hasn't been a conclusion." Goddard did not return calls seeking comment but previously has declined to comment pending final outcome of the case. Hohnbaum has been the subject of three complaints to BOLI and a complaint to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission alleging he had a potential conflict of interest because of wife Theresa Hart's involvement with a city whitewater center planned along the Rogue River. In May 2015, council members voted in favor of two separate legal expenditures for representation of Hohnbaum, after both the BOLI charges and ethics complaint had been filed. Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:44 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 6:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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