MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority will pay $68,500 to settle out-of-court with two former employees.
Members of the MMHA board voted unanimously to approve settlement agreements with former deputy director Stephanie Hartzler and former tenant counselor LaConia Ross during a Sept. 24 meeting.
Both Hartzler and Ross were terminated from their employment with the MMHA on March 6, 2023.
The MMHA agreed to pay $40,000 to settle with Hartzler and $28,500 with Ross.
Hartzler filed a federal lawsuit against the MMHA and executive director Steve Andrews in September 2023. Ross filed a federal lawsuit against the MMHA and Andrews in May 2024.
Both settlement agreements stated Andrews and the MMHA denied any liability in the lawsuits and that nothing in the agreements “shall be constructed to be an admission by Defendants of any wrongdoing.”
Both parties agreed not to disparage the other and to keep the details of the lawsuit confidential.
How did we write this story?
Richland Source filed numerous public records requests in connection with this story.
Richland Source obtained copies of both settlement agreements as well as copies of the complaints and defendant responses for each lawsuit through Public Access to Court Electronic Records.
In addition, Richland Source obtained a copy of Ross’s charges of discrimination filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
Richland Source requested documents related to the charges of discrimination filed by Hartzler and Ross with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These requests were denied.
We also reviewed the personnel files of both Hartzler and Ross.
Richland Source contacted Andrews, Hartzler and Ross, all of whom declined to comment for this story.
What were the allegations?
In a complaint filed on her behalf in U.S. District Court, Ross alleged she was terminated due to her race and in retaliation for her complaints of discrimination and exercising her First Amendment rights.
Ross alleged she and other Black employees faced racial discrimination at work.
She also alleged that during her employment, she learned Andrews had mismanaged public funds and verbally communicated her concerns to the MMHA in January 2023. That same month, the board voted 3-0 to terminate Andrews.
Andrews and the MMHA denied these allegations in a jointly-filed response.
In the suit filed on Hartzler’s behalf, her attorney stated she was fired in retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights and whistleblowing.
Her suit alleged Andrews committed violations of state and federal law, and Hartzler also communicated those violations to the MMHA board in January 2023.
The defendants denied those claims in a response to Hartzler’s suit, filed jointly by Andrews’ and the MMHA’s attorney.
Richland Source filed a public records request with the MMHA, seeking documentation of Ross’s or Hartzler’s concerns during the month of January.
Andrews responded to the inquiry via email, stating that “extensive review” had not turned up records of any kind.
“Many requests for written concerns have been made to both former employees over the last 18 months, they have not provided any evidence that any such written concerns ever took place,” Andrews wrote in the email.
Andrews was reinstated as the agency’s executive director on March 3, 2023 after two of the board members who voted in favor of his termination, Isoleen Dunn and Debra Chase, were removed by former Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker.
Three days later, Hartzler and Ross were terminated.
Agency claims Hartzler was fired over ‘unsatisfactory performance’
Hartzler served as the organization’s deputy director of compliance and interagency communication before she was terminated. She joined the MMHA as a tenant counselor in 1998. In 2007, she was appointed Section 8 coordinator.
A corrective action form in her personnel file, viewed by Richland Source in 2023, stated the reasons for Hartzler’s termination included unsatisfactory performance, violation of company policy and insubordination.
In a handwritten note in her personnel file, Hartzler wrote that she disagreed with the choice to terminate her.
“I was not given direction on the items listed,” she wrote. “I have never been informed of any shortfalls and (was) always given praise prior to Steve Andrews’ dismissal.
“I feel this is retaliation,” Hartzler wrote.
Hartzler’s personnel file lists multiple certifications earned throughout her tenure, including a Public Housing Manager certification from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials in 2019.
In 2011, Hartzler was one of multiple MMHA employees to receive a one-time only performance bonus after the authority received “high performer status” from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and the state of Ohio Auditor’s Award for compliance with all state and federal regulations.
Hartzler received a two-day suspension in 2015 related to issues of professionalism and insubordination regarding the organization’s chain of command. Richland Source found no evidence of further disciplinary actions, warnings or complaints against her.
Hartzler received positive performance reviews in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In July 2019, her title was changed to director of housing programs. She was promoted to deputy director in October 2022 with a salary of $66,000 per year.
Ross was hired by the MMHA in January 2015 as a receptionist. In May 2015, she was appointed intake specialist.
Ross consistently received positive employee evaluations during her time at the MMHA. In multiple evaluations, Hartzler — who was her supervisor — called her an “asset” to the MMHA and the families it served.
Ross’ personnel file contained no evidence of disciplinary actions, warnings or complaints against her until 2023.
In January 2023, two employees alleged that Ross had behaved aggressively during a staff meeting, abruptly pushing back her chair and approaching a colleague in an intimidating manner.
A March 6, 2023 document states Ross was terminated for unsatisfactory performance, violation of company policy and insubordination. The document references a sexual harassment complaint by a tenant against a landlord that was not reported in a timely manner.
MMHA board votes to cut ties with Huron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Also during a Sept. 24 meeting, the board voted 3-1 to end its management services agreement with the Huron Metropolitan Housing Authority. Board member Sarah Hairston cast the sole dissenting vote; board member Ron Biddle was absent.
Andrews told the board that Huron’s Section 8 voucher utilization has gone down over the past three years, while the other housing authorities he manages (which include Mansfield, Crawford and Seneca) have seen an increase.
“We’ve tried to address it, and I’ve tried to verbally go up there, I visited up there on multiple occasions, trying to address the issues, but none of that which could be getting done is getting done,” he said.
“Right now, Huron does not offer us a whole lot. We offer them a whole lot.”
Andrews told the board part of the problem was that he and the Huron MHA board had disagreed on how to manage the discipline of a Huron employee.
“Corrective action is really hard because (the employee has) a friend on the board,” Andrews said.
“I made it very clear to them … Mansfield is also not interested in continuing this conflict and drama.
“If that’s the road that Huron would like to go, Mansfield would be happy to step away.”
