Sources Say: County mum on hostile workplace complaint

Plus, Commissioner Chloe Eudaly wants to hire a communications assistant to help handle her social media after being sued over Facebook postings.

Multnomah County library employee Amanda Byrd has filed a complaint charging that a majority of the County Commission has violated county policies on professional workplace behavior. In response to a question from Sources, the county is declining to say how — or even whether — the complaint will be investigated and resolved.

Byrd filed the complaint after Chair Deborah Kafoury called Commissioner Loretta Smith a "b---ch" at a Dec. 21 commission meeting. Kafoury subsequently apologized for the remark and every commissioner except Smith promptly accepted her apology. But Byrd still wants Kafoury and the three other commissioners investigated for creating a hostile work environment.

The complaint was filed on Jan. 7 with Multnomah County Chief Operating Officer Marissa Madrigal. Ironically, Kafoury used the slur after Smith repeatedly questioned her decision to designate Madrigal as her successor in the event of incapacitation. Smith was arguing the county's chief operating officer should not be so closely associated with a single commission member when Kafoury gaveled the hearing to an end and insulted her.

After Sources asked about the investigation process, county communications director Julie Sullivan-Springhetti emailed back, "I can confirm the county has received the complaint and has no further information."

Eudaly seeks communications help

Commissioner Chloe Eudaly is offering up to $73,050 per year and generous benefits for someone to manage her social media and other communications.

Eudaly was the subject of controversy during the fall when a freelance reporter dished on all the things she had been saying about local journalists and constituents on her private Facebook account. Eudaly maintains that these are private communications, but many people consider them public records because she was discussing her role as a public official.

We soon may hear what a judge thinks. Rumor has it, papers in a federal lawsuit asking for the records were served on Eudaly last week.