J Young
2006-12-26 03:59:08 UTC
These accusations, if true, demonstrate substandard moral values, poor
taste, and bad judgement. This woman is lucky she still has a job.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=144255
Once hailed as a trailblazer, the nation's first openly lesbian
big-city fire chief was demoted Friday.
Bonnie Bleskachek agreed to step down as Minneapolis fire chief, and
the city council voted to accept a settlement recommended by Mayor R.T.
Rybak with an 8-5 vote.
Bleskachek said she would not fight the action, which ended nine months
of drama amid allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
"Bonnie Bleskacheck showed exceptionally poor judgment," Rybak said, as
he read details of the settlement.
Bleskachek will be demoted to the rank of captain and have an
administrative position that bans her from ever supervising city
employees. She will get no severance pay and take a 40-thousand-dollar
cut to her annual salary of $112,712.
The city spent more than $400,000 investigating Bleskachek, who was the
subject of five lawsuits, two of which were settled; three are pending.
Rybak, who publicly had taken pride in appointing an openly lesbian
chief, said settling with her, instead of firing her, meant Bleskachek
would not file her own lawsuit, which could cost the city even more
money.
"This is the only way to guarantee that she will not supervise in this
city again," he said. "And I believe it is important to do that. I also
believe it's possible to, as quickly as we can, release as much
information as possible to the public."
Among the allegations released by city council Friday:
She had "three verified sexual relationships" with subordinates,
according to the mayor
She engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" at fire houses
She was naked in a hot tub at a private party, where subordinates were
present
She used the fire dispatch system for "personal purposes"
taste, and bad judgement. This woman is lucky she still has a job.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=144255
Once hailed as a trailblazer, the nation's first openly lesbian
big-city fire chief was demoted Friday.
Bonnie Bleskachek agreed to step down as Minneapolis fire chief, and
the city council voted to accept a settlement recommended by Mayor R.T.
Rybak with an 8-5 vote.
Bleskachek said she would not fight the action, which ended nine months
of drama amid allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
"Bonnie Bleskacheck showed exceptionally poor judgment," Rybak said, as
he read details of the settlement.
Bleskachek will be demoted to the rank of captain and have an
administrative position that bans her from ever supervising city
employees. She will get no severance pay and take a 40-thousand-dollar
cut to her annual salary of $112,712.
The city spent more than $400,000 investigating Bleskachek, who was the
subject of five lawsuits, two of which were settled; three are pending.
Rybak, who publicly had taken pride in appointing an openly lesbian
chief, said settling with her, instead of firing her, meant Bleskachek
would not file her own lawsuit, which could cost the city even more
money.
"This is the only way to guarantee that she will not supervise in this
city again," he said. "And I believe it is important to do that. I also
believe it's possible to, as quickly as we can, release as much
information as possible to the public."
Among the allegations released by city council Friday:
She had "three verified sexual relationships" with subordinates,
according to the mayor
She engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" at fire houses
She was naked in a hot tub at a private party, where subordinates were
present
She used the fire dispatch system for "personal purposes"