KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — An investigation of now-former county administrator Terrence Neuzil has found no evidence of misconduct in office because it was never completed, but in a statement released to the media late this afternoon, he feels, because of the work environment created by two female employees and two top county administrators, he had to resign.
He also cites inappropriate leaks by board members to certain media outlets, and states that “I can no longer work for a government that has not only attacked the integrity of me and my wife, but that of my profession.”
The two female employees made allegations that he had rules about how he met and interacted with female co-workers, particularly attractive women, because his wife was fiercely jealous and checked his cellphone nightly.
They complained that Neuzil’s wife would sometimes bring him lunch and sit in on county meetings, and they felt that their jobs might be in jeopardy because of her.
Neuzil, in his statement, said those allegations are “false, malicious, unfounded and at times outlandish.” His separation agreement calls for Neuzil to get six months pay and benefits, and he has agreed not to sue.
Commissioners will once again talk about filling the seat at their next meeting.
We have provided Neuzil’s complete response below:
Personal statement regarding my decision to resign from Kalamazoo County Government
It is with deep regret that due to the false, malicious, unfounded and at times outlandish allegations that have been made by two long-term employees of Kalamazoo County and their cohorts against me and my wife and the impact that is has had on our livelihoods and wellbeing, I have voluntarily resigned from the position of Kalamazoo County Administrator. I can no longer work for a government that has not only attacked the integrity of me and my wife, but that of my profession to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Kalamazoo County government has unethically and dishonestly mishandled nearly every phase of an employee relations issue, likely broke the law, and violated several of its personnel policies.
Kalamazoo County hired Mattis D. Nordfjord, a labor attorney, to conduct and complete an employee relations investigation with accusations against me and my wife. Mr. Nordfjord then used the assistance of the Kalamazoo County Commissioners’ Corporation Counsel Attorney Thom Canny. Mr. Nordfjord was asked to have a report to the Kalamazoo County Commissioners by April 5, 2016.
On April 4, 2016, nearly a month after Mr. Canny and Kalamazoo County Commissioner Chairperson John Taylor asked me to leave my office with no explanation as to why, Kalamazoo County attorneys finally met with me. They informed me and my wife and our attorney that two female employees and their cohorts, several of whom were in upper management, were documenting and plotting my actions as early as the beginning of January, 2016. I started in my position December 21, 2015. They were doing the same against my wife when she would on limited occasion bring me lunch or dinner to my office.
Kalamazoo County Government Personnel Policy Section 2.02 states an “employee who believes he or she is being harassed in violation of this policy shall immediately, and in any event within thirty (30) calendar days, report such harassment to the appropriate supervisor, Department Head or Human Resources.” Sadly, for over two months I entered a workplace in which I was being ‘followed’ and ‘documented’ and yet no one, including Human Resources Director Kristine Cunningham, informed me of that or any issue that was impacting any employee or their ability to perform their work.
During their investigation, the attorneys acting for the County disclosed that they had no proof of evidence regarding any of the allegations. In fact, they have no verbally recorded or video evidence, nor do they have any written evidence including emails, texts, calendar entries, journals or reports; only hearsay, rumors, innuendos and lies. Kalamazoo County attorneys have verified, and therefore have discredited the allegations that “there was no finding by the County of misconduct.” The allegations were all twists and fabrications. The attorneys have given us the following language:
“On April 5, 2016, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners entered into a Voluntary Resignation Agreement and Waiver of Claims with Terrence Neuzil. Mr. Neuzil’s resignation is effective immediately. Kalamazoo County had authorized a review of certain personnel issues by labor counsel. During this review, Mr. Neuzil tendered his resignation which the County accepted, as a result there was no finding by the County of misconduct.”
The investigation found no evidence that I had done anything wrong. The allegations were made up to intentionally hurt and embarrass me and my wife. For example, they say that I had a ‘secret code’ for attractive and not attractive females and that I wouldn’t meet with attractive females in the public or alone in my office; of course all not true.
The allegations also attacked my wife several times. Even more are so far-fetched that they say that I refer to myself as ‘daddy’ and that I ‘suggested future staff meetings occur at Oasis Hot Tub.’ The allegations were crafted and orchestrated collaboratively by several employees in both the County Administrative Office and Finance Office and likely others while I was in Wisconsin for a Midwest Conference for ICMA in early March. The employees knew that if they could get an ‘investigation’ approved by the Commissioners, then the allegations, if they were true or not, would be placed in my personnel file; a file that would then be subject to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests.
Their goal was to get rid of me before they even got to know me and they have succeeded. According to Kalamazoo County Government Personnel Policy Section 2.02, it is the policy of Kalamazoo County that “the County will take reasonable measures to treat complaints discreetly and will respect the personal privacy rights of the accused party and the person making the complaint.” That policy was violated.
As pointed out by several news agencies, Kalamazoo County government first likely violated the Open Meetings Law of Michigan [Michigan Code Section 15.268 Closed sessions; permissible purposes] by meeting behind closed doors on March 15, 2016 without my knowledge, permission or ‘request’ to do so and under no ‘specific pending litigation’ at the time of their initial meeting. Commissioners then took a public vote in open session also on March 15, using a deceiving and non-transparent motion against me written by Mr. Canny. Because it was a ‘hidden’ motion out of view of the public and because I had no knowledge of any action, only an employee or Commissioner could have informed or ‘tipped’ the media of the action; Commissioner Vice Chair Jeff Heppler is quoted in disclosing my name on March 16, 2016 in that initial story by the media.
Releasing my name violated County policy and created a ‘snow-ball effect’ and malicious media ‘fire storm’ that spread across Michigan, Iowa and with colleagues throughout the United States at a time when this was supposed to be a private and internal employee matter to protect all persons involved. As a result, the ability for me and my wife to defend ourselves or trust to have any fair and impartial judgement was nullified. Members of Kalamazoo County government released my name to the media during its poorly handled internal investigation before I was allowed to know what the allegations were pertaining to.
They took no action to correct the media in reporting on stories that were inaccurate; including a local television newscast that used an anonymous ‘past employee’ who lied trying to validate one of the allegations that horribly accused me of ‘sexual discrimination’. And they kept us even more in the dark by taking nearly two days after the Commissioner Meeting before I was finally given a Notice of Allegation Letter by Mr. Nordfjord on March 17, 2016 explaining the heinous and unrealistic allegations against us. That same Notice of Allegation Letter, which the attorneys for the County are now discrediting, is going to be released to the media. Similar documentation for the previous Administrator and his unexpected and controversial departure was never released.
Kalamazoo County Government Personnel Policy Section 2.02, also points out that it is “the policy of the County to treat all such expressed concerns (against an employee) seriously and investigate alleged offenses impartially.” Sadly I was not treated impartially during any of this process. Both Mr. Nordfjord and Mr. Canny had concluded their investigation and had already determined the County’s course of action. In my April 4, 2016 interview with Mr. Canny and Mr. Nordfjord, without my ability to completely finish my statement in response to the allegations, gave me a prepared resignation letter. They then strongly recommended that I negotiate through my attorney and sign the letter.
The so-called ‘investigation’ was deceiving and unethical and a blatant conflict of interest. According to Mr. Nordfjord, Mr. Canny was actually one of the key witnesses in support of the two accusers.
Deputy Administrator John Faul, who under no coincidence will likely try to advocate that he should now become the permanent County Administrator, is another. Despite an attempt to remain as the County Administrator, I was informed that under no circumstances would I be allowed to keep it. I also pleaded but was denied an opportunity to go directly in front of the Commissioners. I was told that the accusers and their cohorts, including Mr. Canny and Mr. Faul, would not be willing to collaboratively resolve any workplace differences or work with Human Resources; in essence, it was either all of them or me.
It is apparent that the two accusers and their cohorts, including those in upper management and likely others in Kalamazoo County government, contrived a plan to force me to leave. My wife and I have been advised that we have legal options to pursue against Kalamazoo County, but in the best interest of our health and livelihoods and our desire to not burden the citizenry with costs of a long and drawn out court battle, we have chosen to take the ‘high-road’ and move on with our lives. Despite the incredible lies and unbelievable made-up allegations, we are respectfully not disclosing the names of the two accusers even though they were identified to us.
This opportunity to pursue ‘my dream job’ has been lost. Kalamazoo County was void of a County Administrator for over a year until my hire. I walked into a leaderless and hostile work environment and had hoped to overcome such politically charged futile conditions. Despite those challenges, in less than three months I met with over 100 community leaders to build relationships between all levels of government and the private sector; receiving accolades from members of Congress, the Governor’s office, university and college presidents, and community leaders. After leading a Commissioner retreat, I developed a strategic plan that focused on policy, budget, constituent social media services, and pursuit of more focused governmental boards and commissions. I began the process of implementing policy in the areas of diversity and inclusiveness as well as in the areas of infrastructure, community revitalization, and resource and sustainability management. I worked on a comprehensive facilities master plan and funding strategy; including a vision and site plan for a new Health and Community Services Building, giving direction to restructure the HCS organizational chart, and combining potential Administrative offices to cross-train and reduce waste. I restructured the County organizational chart as well, started to update the webpage, identified employee training opportunities, created employee community service challenges and I recognized employees by promoting their success stories in my comprehensive County Administrator report. Because of the actions of two vindictive employees and several of their friends in upper management, I will not be able to continue my efforts to improve Kalamazoo County government and its hostile workplace culture.
My wife and I have been nothing but gracious, kind and thankful for our opportunity to try to become part of the Kalamazoo community. We are respectful and inclusive of all people and appreciate our attorney, John Gardiner of Kreis Enderle, for his attempts to reason with unreasonable people. I have no history in my 15+ year career in county government of ever being disrespectful to an employee or a colleague, woman or man, and do not have any complaints in my background. We are so new to the community and we are in shock that there are people in this world that could be so dishonest and deceitful; it is for that reason we feel we are no longer welcome. We are heartbroken by these implications and allegations that paint us with such negativity and can only hope that a new administrator and their family will not be treated by Kalamazoo County government like we were.
– Terrence Neuzil
