14 days ago
Investigators from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission came to Warner Robins Thursday to look into two complaints filed by a former city employee.
Sandra Solari says alleged harassment by her supervisors at the Warner Robins Police Department and Municipal Court violated the American's with Disabilities Act.
Sandra Solari rests comfortably at home, but she's still not at ease about her reason for retirement from the City of Warner Robins. She worked for the city for 18 years.
Solari said, "It got to a point, I just could not handle all the harassment I was going through."
Solari worked as warrants officer clerk at the Municipal Court, an office supervised by the Warner Robins Police Department. It's located inside the old Houston Mall.
The E.E.O.C. complaints allege that Solari was subjected to a hostile work environment because of her disability. She said she believes it was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Solari, who says she had a hip replacement and back surgery which caused her disability, said the alleged discrimination happened on several occasions in 2007 and 2008. She said it came from her direct supervisor Sergeant Debbie Miller and Miller's supervisor Major Harry Denard.
Solari said, "They were not respectful at all of my disability. I got written up one time for not carrying supplies, when the secretary knew I could not carry that box of supplies."
She also says Miller parked their shared city car in the back of the mall parking lot, knowing Solari would have trouble walking to it, among other alleged incidents.
City Attorney Jim Elliott would not talk specifics about the case, But said Thursday was the E.E.O.C.'s second visit to the city, investigating these same complaints filed by Solari.
Elliott said, "Any alleged discrimination that violates federal law is something that any employer should take seriously."
Elliott says the complaint could result in a law suit against the city.
Solari said that's her intention, unless the city agrees to her request out of court. She said, "I want the city to pay me a percentage of the pay I lost, that I am losing by not being able to retire until I reach the age of 64 and a half. That's exactly what I want. That's the only thing I want."
Solari said she wants the city to pay 35-percent to 50-percent of the pay she lost.
Reached by phone, Warner Robins Police Major Harry Denard said, "It's our position that we did nothing wrong."
Sergeant Debbie Miller did want to talk about the case, because it's an open investigation.
