Ontario County Board Dismisses DA's 'Politically Motivated' Court Probe Claim

Internal Compliance Report Reveals Alcohol Consumption by Ontario County Employees in Courtroom on Election Day

An internal compliance report has revealed that Ontario County employees were found drinking alcohol in an unused courtroom while dressed in costumes on Election Day in November. The incident has sparked a series of investigations and raised questions about the adherence to county policies.

Investigation into the Courtroom Party

The investigation focused on an event that occurred during work hours on Election Day. According to the report, several county employees participated in what appeared to be a costume party inside a courtroom that was not in use. The incident involved the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which is against established county policies.

FOIL Requests and Policy Clarifications

Following the release of the report, 13WHAM filed a Freedom of Information (FOIL) request for additional details. The county partially fulfilled the request, providing access to certain county policies but denying others. Specifically, the request for courthouse policies regarding drugs, alcohol, liquids, and food was denied, with the county stating there are no responsive documents available.

However, after further clarification, it was discovered that there is no official policy prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within the courthouse. This revelation has led to increased scrutiny over the conduct of county employees and the enforcement of existing rules.

Employee Conduct and Policies

It is known that county employees are required to refrain from consuming alcohol during working hours. The internal compliance report recommended that the county administrator and the Board of Supervisors chair should counsel the District Attorney, James Ritts, in writing. The recommendations included:

• Prohibiting the consumption of alcohol by employees during working hours.
• Limiting the number of working hours devoted to events such as "Fall Fest."
• Ensuring that employees of the DA’s office maintain the highest standards of conduct.
• Emphasizing that although Ritts is an elected official, he must still adhere to all county policies, including cooperating fully and honestly in any future HR investigations.

Additionally, the report highlighted the importance of employees using annual leave or other paid time off when they do not meet their required hours.

Correspondence and Transparency Issues

When 13WHAM requested email and written correspondence between the county administrator, the Board of Supervisors chair, and Ritts regarding the recommendations and actions taken, the county denied the request, claiming that such emails do not exist. However, the county did provide copies of several documents, including the employee handbook, workplace conduct standards policy, collective bargaining agreement, benefits manual, and standards of conduct regulatory compliance policy.

These documents were referenced as being relevant to the DA's office's alleged violations during "Fall Fest."

Political Reactions and Public Statements

Roughly three months after the report was released, Ritts held a press conference where he labeled the internal compliance report as "politically motivated" and accused the investigator of bias. In response, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors issued a statement rejecting Ritts’ claims, calling them "unfounded and inaccurate."

The Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and public trust in county operations. They emphasized the importance of the Compliance Program, which was established in 2022 to ensure all employees, whether appointed or elected, are held to the highest standards of conduct.

The Board expressed full confidence in the Compliance Program and its investigators, who are tasked with upholding ethical and responsible governance. They remain focused on maintaining the integrity of county government and the public’s trust in its institutions.