Latrobe officials said Tuesday that the city's six clerical employees, plus two former workers recently laid off by city administration, have each filed inquiries with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission questioning the downsizing measure.
"The city's entire clerical collective bargaining unit filed the inquiries on July 7," said James Kelley, the city's solicitor.
Effective June 1, the positions of Kay Nevin, a full-time administrative clerk, and Susan Sagan, a part-time clerical dispatcher at the public works garage, were eliminated as part of efforts to cut spending by City Manager Rick Stadler.
The cuts, which reduced daily business hours at the city's administration office on Jefferson Street to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will save the city $61,500 a year, Stadler said previously.
Salaries of Nevin, 66, and Sagan, 48, both of Latrobe, were about $35,000 and $22,000, respectively, and the remaining savings would come in benefits. Nevin and Sagan had the least years of service among the city's clerical workers, Kelley said.
The inquiries included concerns about the possibility of age discrimination in connection with the layoffs.
"It's public knowledge at this point," said Deputy Mayor Ken Baldonieri. "We stand behind the cuts. It was a reduction in force, plain and simple; there were no other factors taken into consideration. It's simple seniority.
"We gave them an opportunity to keep their jobs with a reduction in weekly hours, and there was a rank-and-file rejection," Baldonieri said.
Council learned of the filings during an executive session held at its July 12 regular meeting, said Councilwoman Rosie Wolford.
"It's a little disconcerting, in part, because we wanted to avoid the layoffs, and, in part, because the city would have to pay for the defense against any charges," Wolford said.
Kelley said the inquiries may or may not result in charges against the city. "All we can do is wait to see what happens. It will either move to a charge against the city or will be dismissed by the commission," Kelley said.
Neither Nevin nor Sagan responded to requests for comment yesterday.
