Jefferson Hills accused of age bias

A long-time Jefferson Hills Borough employee claims that officials fired him earlier this month in retaliation for an age-discrimination complaint that he filed.

Public Service Coordinator William McVicker, 66, was terminated without notice Sept. 8, just five days after he filed the discrimination charge with the local office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said McVicker's attorney Robert Bootay.

The borough's oldest employee, McVicker initially turned to the EEOC because he believed he was being treated differently because of his age, said Bootay. The attorney said the borough renegotiated pensions with all of its employees, except McVicker.

"He was made aware by officials and by other employees that his job was in jeopardy," said Bootay, a councilman in neighboring Pleasant Hills. "The quote was: 'You've been here long enough.' And you can't do that under federal law."

The law prohibits job discrimination based on race, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability and pregnancy, said Jim Carroll, an employment attorney with the Downtown firm Rothman Gordon. Age-discrimination prohibitions apply to those 40 and older.

Borough officials Wednesday refused to answer questions about McVicker's termination.

"We're not allowed to talk about Bill," Councilman Tracey P. Khalil said.

Khalil referred questions to borough Manager Douglas Arndt, who said he could not discuss personnel matters. Borough Solicitor Mike Adams could not be reached yesterday.

McVicker filed an EEOC intake questionnaire -- the initial step before filing a discrimination charge -- on May 2, Bootay said. The borough was put on notice about the issue this summer.

McVicker filed his charge with EEOC on Sept. 3 and was fired at a Jefferson Hills Council meeting the next week. He filed a second charge after the termination.

"What's most shocking is they fired this guy literally days after his charge with the EEOC," Bootay said.

McVicker, who was hired full time by the borough in November 1976 as a sewage-system manager, oversaw zoning, code enforcement and public works as public service coordinator. At the time of his firing, McVicker was making $61,700, Bootay said.

Bootay said he reviewed McVicker's personnel file, which is "stellar." The reason McVicker was given for his termination was reorganization, Bootay said.

McVicker was out of town and not available for comment. An EEOC official declined to comment.