HC's Baden awaits job hearing

The decision by the new president of Hocking College to place a longtime college official on administrative leave for alleged wrongdoing has apparently created some tension between the president and a member of his trustee board.

Ron Erickson, who recently took over as Hocking's second president in history, placed Cindy Baden, executive director of the HC Foundation, on paid administrative leave, pending a hearing to see if she loses her job.

According to a letter Erickson sent to Baden Oct. 23, the reason is that "there is evidence that in 2006 you falsified a public-records request. The request involved minutes of a meeting regarding Lake Snowden."

The letter also alleged that "there has been a pattern of behavior" on Baden's part that is inexcusable, and that "on multiple occasions you have reported false and inaccurate information."

The Lake Snowden meeting would have involved a controversial proposed development project at Lake Snowden Park, which HC owns.

In September 2006, Hocking College officials announced that they were working on a proposal with a company called Moondance Development to develop part of Lake Snowden Park, near Albany on U.S. Rt. 50/Ohio Rt. 32.

The proposal called for the college to sell 200 acres and lease 50 acres of the 651-acre park to the developers.

Strong opposition arose against the proposal, however, mainly among park users and local officials who protested private development on the public reservoir. The developers eventually pulled out, announcing in March 2007 that they were "exploring other options" for places to develop.

According to HC spokeswoman Judy Sinnott, Baden had a "disciplinary conference" scheduled for Tuesday, but it has been continued to Nov. 13. Sinnott said the college cannot comment on the case yet because it is ongoing.

Baden, whose phone number in Logan is unlisted, could not be reached for comment.

Internal communications provided by HC indicate that at least one trustee has told Erickson he's opposed to the decision to possibly sack Baden.

In an e-mail to Sinnott Oct. 27, Trustee Frank Newlon told her to "please let the president know he does NOT have my support" in the Baden matter. On the same day, Newlon e-mailed Erickson directly, asking that Baden be put on paid leave until the full board next meets.

"If there is just cause, there is no problem," he wrote, but added that Erickson's handling of disciplinary matters involving two other HC employees have caused the school to lose a great deal of support," and he fears the Baden case, if mishandled, could have the same effect.

Newlon could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In an e-mail to Trustee Alan Geiger, Erickson mentioned the e-mail from Newlon, saying he was "confused" by Newlon's response, "since it would suggest that he does not support the board's own policies in dealing with such matters. It is also perplexing when considering that he has no knowledge of the actual Code of Conduct infractions that led to the administrative leave."

In another e-mail to Geiger, Erickson suggested that the Ohio Attorney General's office "“ which has already been investigating HC for possible spending improprieties during the tenure of Erickson's predecessor John Light (along with other state and federal agencies) "“ may have an interest in Baden's case.

The e-mail notes that AG representatives plan to be at Baden's termination hearing; it also contains a paragraph that has been redacted "due to attorney-client privilege."