COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An investigation by the Inspector General into allegations that Frankie Coleman lied on her timesheets found that she had established a pattern of being tardy or absent from her position with the Department of Development.

The report, which was released Wednesday afternoon, also laid heavy criticism on the state's Lt. Governor for hiring Coleman.
 
The report said that Coleman, wife of Mayor Michael Coleman, did not show up for work or was absent without leave on 13 days in February through April.

Click here to read the full report.

"Coleman had problems with her attendance beginning on her second day of work," the report stated.

The report also said that, "Coleman soon began arriving late, leaving early, and on two days did not show up for work at all." On the two days in-question, the report found that Coleman called in sick, but did not file requests to take sick or personal leave, and was paid as if she had worked.

During a May 31 interview with the Inspector General, Coleman denied the accusations and, according to the report, did not admit to missing a single day of work. A week later, Coleman admitted that she didnt tell the truth, and said she was battling alcoholism, the report said.

Coleman said she missed work for a variety of reasons, including meetings with monster.com.

No such meetings were held, the report stated.

Mrs. Coleman resigned from her position with the state's Department of Development on Friday, June 8 and entered an inpatient alcohol treatment program on June 11.

The allegations against Mrs. Coleman were first made in March by her former supervisor, Glenda Williamson.

There was speculation that Williamson had been fired for refusing to sign Coleman's timesheet. The investigation concluded that was not the reason Williamson was fired.

Based upon the results of the investigation, the Inspector General's office recommended that the DOD give closer scrutiny to employees' timesheets to ensure that employees are accurately reporting the actual hours worked.
 
Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, the person responsible for hiring Coleman, addressed the report's findings for the first time Wednesday.

"Did I make a mistake? You bet I did," Fisher said. "Was it a management mistake ... one that managers sometimes make and learn from? Yes.

Was it anything more than a management mistake? Absolutely not."

The report criticized the Lt. Governor and "questioned the conduct of Fisher and other DOD officials who were oblivious to warning after warning that Coleman's personal problems were interfering with her job duties."

The report concluded that "all were red flags that Coleman's hiring was a mistake, regardless of her qualifications."

Following the findings, Mayor Coleman issued a statement in which he said the first priority was his wife's well-being.

"My concern is for Frankie's recovery and health, and we're dealing with that as a family," he said.

He also addressed the report's findings regarding his wife's former position with the state.

"Frankie was well-qualified and loved her job with the Department of Development, and when questions arose, she cooperated fully with the investigation.  I'm sure she will cooperate in taking responsibility for any mistakes that were made as she moves forward with her life."

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