By Stephanie Brien
Journal Times | Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - City Health Administrator Janelle Grammer is alleging illegal age discrimination and her attorney is threatening to file a complaint, according to Deputy City Attorney Scott Letteney.
The City of Racine received correspondence from Attorney Nola Cross on Thursday that alleged Grammer "has been subjected to certain personnel actions based upon illegal age discrimination, prior Equal Employment Opportunity activity, and opposition to age and disability discrimination," according a statement released by Letteney on Tuesday.
The statement does not explain further.
The Journal Times sent the City of Racine a request Tuesday for Cross' correspondence regarding Grammer's case under the state's open records law. As of Tuesday night the city had not responded.
The city will start an internal investigation Monday, said City Attorney Rob Weber.
"When we are notified a claim could be filed we have a duty to do an investigation," Weber said.
City Council President David Maack said he received an e-mail from Ron Thomas, the chairman of the Affirmative Action and Human Rights Commission, asking members of the commission to meet soon to review Grammer's allegations.
But he would not comment about the case itself.
Grammer was also at the Tuesday City Council meeting, but she would not comment on the case or disclose her age.
In Cross' letter, she indicated she prefers to handle the matter internally, but she put the city on notice that she intends to file a complaint under state and federal law if the city is unwilling to cooperate, according to Letteney. Cross was not available for comment.
Cross is the same attorney who represents the mayor's former administrative assistant Sandra Tingle.
Tingle alleged discrimination against Mayor Gary Becker and City Administrator Ben Hughes. The city has denied the allegations and the case is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.