Claims of discrimination unsubstantiated

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
A division of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development was unable to substantiate a claim of discrimination by four former South Fulton public works employees.
The finding was revealed to South Fulton Mayor David Crocker in a certified letter dated Tuesday from Steven D. Hawkins, assistant administrator of the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The claim was made by former city employees James Donnell, David Glisson, Robert Weatherford and Hubert Maynard, who were terminated last month from their positions in South Fulton’s Public Works Department.
“We were unable to substantiate the claim of discrimination under (Tennessee Code Annotated) as filed by (the four former employees),” according to Hawkins’ letter.
He said the four men were advised of the determination and have a set period of 10 days from receipt of the notification to appeal the decision to the commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. If no appeal is filed, the case file will be administratively closed.
Crocker was aware of the decision last week and revealed at the April 21 South Fulton City Commission meeting that official notification would be forthcoming from the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
At the commission meeting, Crocker contended the former employees’ safety concerns over a gas stove and gas meter at the city’s community room were “unfounded” and he said there was no safety issue.
The four former employees have filed a lawsuit against the city (see related story, Page 1).
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 4.28.11

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