St. Louis County attorney to county board: Stop talking about harassment complaints

I'm sure most of you have read the article below, or watched it on our Northern Minnesota news. In case you missed it you can watch it on http://www.northernmnnews.com/. it's the third video clip right after 2 great statements by Kathy and Kevin. Thank you for those by the way.

It was good to see how positive for example Commissioners Kron and Sweeney were. They thanked Melanie Ford for doing her job. Unfortunately Commissioner Nelson's behavior was less than impressive. We will see how it will do this Tuesday, please join us!

Sandra

St. Louis County attorney to county board: Stop talking about harassment complaints

Duluth News Tribune
Published Tuesday, October 02, 2007

To protect the county from more potential sexual harassment complaints, St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford today advised the County Board not to talk about complaints filed earlier this year against two commissioners or about the female employees who filed the complaints.“There’s a lot of talk out there that there could be other complaints,” Ford told commissioners at the end of regular board meeting in Duluth. “There’s a lot of people in the county talking about what’s going on, and there’s even talk about them getting together and filing a complaint.”

Earlier this year, sexual harassment complaints were filed against Commissioners Dennis Fink and Steve Raukar.

Following investigations by Duluth attorney Elizabeth Storaasli, both commissioners were found by the county’s personnel officer to have violated a county harassment policy. However, as elected officials, commissioners are not subject to the same policy that covers county employees.

The board, in two separate split votes, didn’t take disciplinary action against either commissioner.

Further public discussion about the issue — either to media or among commissioners — could lead to additional complaints from the complainants or from others, said Ford.

“I am here telling you that it is a possibility, and I am here to suggest there is a way to reduce the risk of a complaint or lawsuit being filed,” said Ford. “I would suggest you not make your feelings public about the harassment complaints.”

Commissioners Peg Sweeney and Bill Kron thanked Ford for her legal advice.

Kron said former county attorney Alan Mitchell offered similar warnings to the board during Mitchell’s tenure.

“You have told us some areas to be careful of and that is your job,” said Kron.

Sweeney said Ford’s job is to “put up red flags,” to the board and “prevent further victimization of the victims.”

However, Commissioner Keith Nelson said Ford was keeping the issue alive by bringing it up at a board meeting.

For more of this story, read tomorrow's Duluth News Tribune and check back to duluthnewstribune.com.