READ: Sally Deitrick's Termination Letter

Sally Deitrick was fired as mayor's secretary in May, but has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit seeking $250,000 in damages.

The crux of the city's defense -- which will be handled by law firm Thompson Hine -- is in the two-page letter dated May 4 that Mayor Susan Drucker sent to Deitrick informing her that she was being fired.

In that letter, Drucker outlines a her "continued dissatisfaction" with Deitrick's job performance, who had worked for Solon's previous mayor, Kevin Patton.

The letter provides a long list of Drucker's complaints about Deitrick, from routine issues such as not completing daily tasks and improperly keeping the office finances to more serious matters including inappropriately deleting computer files and a "lack of loyalty" about internal office matters, including "inappropriate sharing of information with the press and your co-workers."

For instance, the letter describes a time in March when Deitrick was missing work for medical leave -- without providing Drucker any information on her condition or when she would be back.

But Drucker notes that during this time she received a phone call at the mayor's office confirming Deitrick's appointment for a cooking class.

"It is important that I as the Mayor work with executive staff with whom I feel comfortable and whom I trust," Drucker wrote.

Drucker wrote that she and Deitrick met after Drucker was elected mayor in late 2009 to discuss Deitrick's future in the mayor's office. They agreed that Deitrick would remain in her job through 2010 to see how it went.

Drucker also told Deitrick that if she decided to hire a new secretary she would try to find her a job elsewhere on the city payroll.

According to the letter, Drucker twice offered Deitrick jobs in the Police Department. One offer was rejected and the other, according to Drucker, was ignored.

The letter says Deitrick was fired May 20. A draft of the letter was reviewed by the Solon City Council before it was delivered. City council saw no problems with it.