Second Report Ethington Claimed Not to Want Health Director Job, But Wrote Own Hiring Letter

Cassandra Ethington told investigators from the Fitzmaurice and Walsh lawfirm that she did not want the job as interim Health Director and that it was forced upon her by the Board of Supervisors. Instead, she wrote the draft letter for her own hiring.

In a letter to late Supervisor Bill Goblet, Ethington effectively hired herself without Board approval. She said that since she was assisting in the selling of the County Home Health services, she was "doing all of this work already." She wrote the letter on Health Department letterhead and never indicated that she had done so.

Both Supervisor Harold Vroman and President of the Board of Health Betsy Bernocco signed off on the civil service form accepting her. The Board itself approved the job transfer in January 2011.

Ethington accused one employee Eva Gigandet of being "out of control" after she attended a public health seminar. Ethington asked in an email "what is with her?" Mrs. Ethington broke confidentiality-- emailing criticism of Gigandet to Gigandet herself "accidentally."
Mrs. Gigandet was later fired and sued for improper dismissal. The case was dismissed.