Above is an image of the formal grievance.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 277 has filed a formal grievance against the City of Elyria. The grievance is on behalf of City of Elyria employee, Carl Spanos.

As I previously reported, Spanos was accused of “harassing and intimidating” Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield and his children at a City event at Burr Oak Reservation in early August this year. Spanos is alleged to have taken pictures of Whitfield despite the mayor asking him to stop.

The incident led to a weeks-long investigation by Safety Service Director Matt Lundy and Human Resources Director Jean Yusefi. At the time of the incident, Spanos was not working for the City and was “off the clock.” It remains unclear who prompted the City Hall personnel investigation into Spanos.

After several hearings, Lundy suspended Spanos for three days without pay. According to Lundy’s disciplinary letter to Spanos, the suspension was handed down due to “dishonest” statements allegedly made by Spanos in disciplinary hearings following the altercation. You can read that story here.

Now, AFSCME Local 277 is pushing back. The grievance, filed on September 1, 2023, accuses the City of violating Section 2.1 of the labor contract. That section references, among other things, an employee’s right to “fair and impartial treatment.”

The grievance demands that Lundy’s disciplinary letter be rescinded, as well as “any consequences” stemming from his and Yusefi’s investigation.

Multiple City Hall sources tell me the union is pushing for the withdrawal of all consequences because Spanos was not working for the City at the time of the incident, and may have been pressured into attending disciplinary hearings he was not contractually obligated to attend. I reached out to Local 277 President Matt Beal for comment. He confirmed the grievance was filed and declined to comment further.

A meeting has been scheduled for September 11 between City and Union officials to address the grievance.

This is a developing story.

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