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Three Oregon Construction Contractors Board employees 鈥� Richard Blank, manager of field investigations; Traci Barnett, human resources manager; and Bill Ridgway, information systems specialist 鈥� have been placed on paid administrative leave following a Department of Justice investigation into sexual harassment claims.

The investigation started last fall after a male employee at the CCB, which regulates construction contractors and has approximately 65 to 75 employees, filed claims that ultimately were passed to Human Resources in the DOJ’s Administrative Services Division.

Investigators identified inappropriate workplace behavior and management’s response, CCB interim administrator Berri Leslie said. The results of the investigation were given to the CCB’s eight-member board in early February.

Leslie would not disclose details of the behavior, but said the allegations were confirmed by the investigation.

鈥淲e know for sure that that type of behavior does not belong at this agency,鈥� she said.

Leslie was named interim administrator at a Feb. 12 special board meeting after Craig Smith, the CCB’s administrator for 13 years, announced his retirement 鈥� effective at the end of the month. Smith was not identified as a source of harassment, Administrative Services spokesman Matt Shelby said.

Leslie, previously a deputy administrator with the Department of Consumer and Business Services, will review the results of the investigation and determine what further personnel actions will be taken, Shelby said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment, citing confidentiality regarding its attorney-client relationship with the CCB. It could release information about the investigation in weeks ahead, spokesman Michael Kron said.