State watchdog urges expanded work rules for EPA employees

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The state watchdog says the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency should consider expanding its rules against agency employees doing private work on state time after an investigation found an employee conducted real-estate work from his office.

A recent Ohio Inspector General’s report noted an environmental specialist in northeastern Ohio made more than 700 nonwork-related phone calls and more than 3,500 visits to real-estate websites over six months.

The Dayton Daily News reports the employee told investigators his use of state resources for those purposes was infrequent and for his personal residence and family.

The EPA requested the investigation.

The inspector general also recommended the state EPA consider administrative action or training for the employee and referred the case to the Summit County prosecutor for consideration.