WARREN — Documents obtained by the Tribune Chronicle indicate the rising tensions between two Trumbull County officials.

Emails exchanged between Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko and Richard Jackson, head of the county human resources department, about employee complaints that originated after Frenchko brought her cat to work, included attempts by Frenchko to get Jackson to retract statements he made to the Tribune Chronicle concerning the issue, and accused him of being “out of control” for relating the information to the press.

“I suggest you retract any specific statements that support or relate to an employee’s claim immediately,” Frenchko’s email to Jackson states. She also questioned who authorized him to answer a reporter’s questions.

Jackson told Frenchko his comments weren’t related to the grievance, which was filed by an administrative assistant after she suffered an allergic reaction to Betty the cat. He said he made comments to clarify the issue.

“I have your quoted comments. The specifics were certainly discussed. Please retract the statements as they will put (our) county at a disadvantage, and you are NOT a health expert to know if high heat was a factor. Your behavior is out of control,” Frenchko states in the email.

Frenchko suggested earlier the employee’s reaction to the feline was because of the high temperatures in the office that day due to a malfunctioning heating and cooling system, or because the windows were open and allergens were able to make their way inside.

Jackson disputed the claim.

“I am not a health expert, and neither are you,” Jackson states.

Regarding Frenchko’s statement about Jackson’s behavior being “out of control,” Jackson responded, “Actually, I have the same thoughts about your behavior. You call yourself a leader when you put employees in your own office in jeopardy?” Jackson replied.

The emails state the employee who had the reaction returned to work on the condition that no cat be present in the workplace. Documents attached to the emails, from the employee’s doctor visit, state she had an allergic reaction causing respiratory distress and hives “due to exposure to a cat at work.”

Further emails between the two remained testy, including an exchange over who signed the employee’s grievance, and accusations from each that the other is acting dishonestly.

Frenchko also requested that Jackson send her dates and names of everyone who complained about the cat, along with any email communications or notes taken about the topic.

The commissioner earlier had said no one had complained about the cat and found Betty’s presence calming. She said the cat wasn’t there long and had been in the office only a couple of times in the last few weeks.

Jackson disputed that, saying there had been informal complaints and the cat was at the office more frequently.

Frenchko previously said the cat was kept primarily in her office during the brief visits, and the cat didn’t stay long enough to use a litter box.