Allegations of corruption, hostile work environment by Orange County code enforcement director surface

An investigation is underway after a seven-page letter hand-delivered to multiple county officials by a senior employee details allegations of abuse of power, corruption, discrimination, a hostile work environment and psychological and emotional distress caused by code enforcement director Bob Spivey.

A senior Orange County code officer filed a complaint with with the county, which officials confirmed with 9 Investigates on Tuesday. County officials said they’re in the early stages of interviewing employees.

The senior employee, who has worked for the county for 15 years, wrote in the seven-page letter that she and other county employees have been afraid to speak up because they fear being chastised or labeled disgruntled. It was hand-delivered to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, the county administrator and every county commissioner.

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In what she calls a devastating encounter with Spivey, the employee writes that he “yelled at me, insulted me and cursed at me” as he got closer to her face in front of two other employees during a discussion about an overgrown lot.

The employee said Spivey gave her a homemade voucher for a free day off as an apology.

She said the incident was so traumatic that she was untruthful when she was interviewed about a claim of sexual harassment within the department a year later because she didn’t want to lose her job or be on Spivey’s “target list.”

She also said Spivey told her before she was interviewed: “Just so we’re clear, nobody has to know what you and I know. You don’t have to say anything.”

The employee said the toxic work environment has lingered for years, with employees allegedly publicly belittled and berated by Spivey. He also used an expletive when referring to former Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

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When expressing frustration about code enforcement issues brought to his attention by Commissioner Victoria Siplin, who often calls or emails with concerns, he allegedly belittled her position saying, “she’s just a housewife with a degree.”

The county declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

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