George Halcovage Jr. stepped down as chairman of the Schuylkill County Commissioners on Wednesday, following allegations that he sexually harassed and verbally abused female co-workers.

However he resisted calls from the public and at least one county official to resign from the commissioners completely.

“During this time, I am going to step aside as the chair and there will be a reorganization taking place — to not distract from the operations of the county during these proceedings that we’re all aware of,” Halcovage said.

On Wednesday, the county commissioners met for the first time since the announcement and completion of an internal investigation by the county solicitor’s office. The investigation concluded that Halcovage violated the county’s policies regarding verbal abuse and sexual harassment.

After Halcovage stepped down, fellow Republican Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington was appointed as commissioners’ chairman. Hetherington was appointed in March to fill the vacant seat left by the late Frank Staudenmeier Jr.

During Wednesday’s meeting, county officials and residents called upon the commissioners to hold Halcovage accountable for his actions.

Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Maria Casey said the commissioners should urge Halcovage to resign, or vote to ban him from all county facilities. She cited the investigators’ statement that if Halcovage was a department head he would have been recommended for termination. However Pennsylvania does not allow for the removal of elected officials unless they are convicted of a crime or impeached.

Calling for removal

“You acknowledged he would be removed if he was a normal employee — so you already made the admission he should be removed. But just because he’s an elected official doesn’t mean he should get preferential treatment,” Casey said.

She said the four women who accused Halcovage of harassment are all longtime county employees, who do not feel safe working with him in the courthouse.

Two of the women who accused Halcovage of harassment are afraid to return to work while he is still in the building, she said, and two more had their assigned parking spaces moved because they were afraid of Halcovage, she said.

“They are afraid to come to work, yet you let a serial perpetrator who you’ve found to engage in these acts, you let him come to work every day — but the victims are afraid to be in the courthouse with him. Tell me how you can rationalize that position. He should not be allowed in the courthouse,” Casey said.

Casey called upon the commissioners to immediately disclose all pending complaints against Halcovage, especially if county funds are being used to defend him.

Casey said Halcovage continues to avoid accepting responsibility for his actions, even after the investigation. The county’s sexual harassment policy states that investigators must discuss each allegation with the alleged perpetrator. But Halcovage denied knowing about the allegations when he spoke to reporters after the investigation was revealed.

“You have a person who has a nature where he doesn’t want to admit right and wrong, and you’re gonna let him come in here every day — if he had any integrity he would say he wouldn’t come in. But that’s not his nature. He wants to be in here because that’s where these women are,” Casey said.

Past allegations

Retired Chief County Detective Dolly Malec also called upon the commissioners to do something to protect women who work in the courthouse.

She said she was a victim of Halcovage’s harassment in 2014. “I was acting in my capacity as chief county detective and as intelligence liaison officer. Mr. Halcovage was demeaning, verbally abusive to me, and talked to me like I wasn’t worth anything because I was a woman,” Malec said.

Malec said she didn’t pursue legal action against Halcovage because she was afraid that he would retaliate against her. She said many employees in the courthouse refer to Halcovage as “King George” because of his ability to avoid punishment for his actions.

“I am now retired. I no longer have to deal with this. But we can no longer allow this to continue in this courthouse,” she said. “You need to protect the women who work in this courthouse.”

Palo Alto resident Jeff Dunkel said he couldn’t understand how Halcovage was not suspended or disciplined after the investigation concluded he violated three county policies.

“This gentleman sits there like he’s on the throne and nothing happens to him. I don’t think that’s fair to the women who work in the courthouse, I don’t think it’s fair to women anywhere,” Dunkel said.

Dunkel also criticized the commissioners for not authorizing an outside investigation, questioning whether the county solicitor’s office could act independently of the commissioners who appoint them.

Dunkel warned that more women will come forward with allegations against Halcovage and encouraged the commissioners to be transparent, especially if taxpayer funds are being used to pay to defend Halcovage and pay settlements to his accusers.

“It’s been going on for years, all these complaints, and nobody wants to take any action,” he said.

Taking seriously

Hetherington said he is taking the allegations seriously, as well as the comments made during Wednesday’s meeting. However he declined to call for Halcovage to resign. He said there is a process which must take place, with care taken to protect the identities of the employees who have made allegations against Halcovage.

“I do believe in due process in the United States and court system. However I am a father of three young women who work in an industry and careers, and I will not support any type of harassment, especially sexual harassment with women,” Hetherington said.

Hess, the sole Democrat on the board, called for Halcovage’s resignation. He also cautioned Hetherington to avoid going to Halcovage for advice about his new position as commissioners’ chairman.

He said instead, Hetherington should rely on County Administrator Gary Bender.

“This is a position that’s not to be political, but that should be in the right thing,” Hess said.