Three Iowa Civil Rights Commission investigators were recently fired for sending inappropriate emails to co-workers, NorthIowaToday.com was informed Thursday. If Mason City’s Human Rights Department was ultimately closed, the state-level Iowa Civil Rights Commission, where the three fired workers are from, would have to pick up the slack for Mason City. NorthIowaToday.com asked local leaders if they thought that was a good idea.|Three Iowa Civil Rights Commission investigators were recently fired for sending inappropriate emails to co-workers, NorthIowaToday.com was informed Thursday.
According to a story released by the Associated Press, the workers were “fired after sending hundreds of gossipy emails calling co-workers derogatory nicknames like “Psycho,” ”Monster,” and “Roid Rage,” and forwarding pictures that made fun of fat people, Wal-Mart customers and others.”
Also according to the Associated Press story, “They called their supervisor, Don Grove, “Teen Wolf” and the commission’s executive director Beth Townsend, “Night Ranger,” as they gossiped about their management styles. They criticized colleagues’ looks, social skills and mannerisms, quoted vulgar rap lyrics and received and sent offensive pictures ó all while they were supposed to be investigating complaints of housing and employment discrimination.”
The three investigators were fired, denied unemployment benefits and then denied again after an appeals process. Kerry Koonce, spokesperson for Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) in Des Moines told NorthIowaToday.com that IWD was involved only to adjudicate the appeals. Once an appeal is filed, all information and evidence in the case becomes public record, Koonce said.
(See a report on the appeal for fired investigator Tiffanie Drayton here.)
It has been alleged that Mason City Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and at least one City Councilman, Scott Tornquist, wanted to close or at least drastically de-fund Mason City’s Human Rights Department and Commission. They now both deny that was ever the case. “Nobody tried to “eliminate” the Human Right Commission or the Human Rights Department last year. There was an effort to cut the budget of the Human Rights Department, cuts which would have brought the MC Human Right Department more in line with Human Rights Departments of peer groups around the state,” Tornquist said last January when questioned. (See video below, to watch a Council work session where the issue was discussed.)
If Mason City’s Human Rights Department was ultimately closed, the state-level Iowa Civil Rights Commission, where the three fired workers are from, would have to pick up the slack for Mason City.
Beth Townsend, the Executive Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, told NorthIowaToday.com that she is “satisfied” that this was an isolated incident with the staff there, and that the incident would “not … impair our ability to investigate cases” which she says her agency handles statewide.
Lionel Foster, who runs Mason City’s Human Rights Department, had this to say on the situation: “Some suggested that complaints from Mason City be sent to Iowa Civil Rights. The Mason City Human Rights Commission (MCHRC) has a long standing practice of having its Commissioners conduct the investigation of cases. Given the fact that each Commissioner is aware of their legal duty to act impartially and without bias as investigators, it would be highly improbable that the situation at the Iowa Civil Rights Commission would ever occur with them. I think it’s important to remember that the Commissioners take their role as investigators very seriously.”
In light of the behavior and firing of these three state workers, NorthIowaToday.com asked for input from Bookmeyer, all six City Council members and Lionel Foster about what kind of service North Iowans could expect in Des Moines should complaints one day be sent there, and whether closing Mason City’s office was a good idea.
Councilman Jeff Marsters told NorthIowaToday.com that “Certainly not practical having (Mason City) residents having to drive to Des Moines. Most needing HR assistance are probably financially strapped to start with. Having to travel to Des Moines would make it less likely that many would bother to seek assistance they need. I suppose some would think that’s a good thing!”
Marsters also said “Good luck getting a response from the Mayor, Tornquist, Hickey or Solberg.” None of the officials he mentioned offered a comment for this story.
Councilman Max Weaver said “There is no question that the mayor and Councilperson Scott Tourquist wanted to do away with HRC in Mason City (read “pot and the kettle“). It would of been a shame if these two would of gotten their way. And now this with the state agency. Very sad. Mayor Bookmeyer will continue his desire to dismantle the MCHRC with his hand picked appointments. But I also think Bookmeyer and Tournquist wont have the courage to repeat them selves this next budget cycle. They are both up for election next.”
See related story:
Human Rights controversy won’t go away (Posted on Tuesday, Feb. 01, 2011)
Watch video of City Council and Mayor discuss elimination of Mason City’s Human Rights Department:
