MONROE - The attorney hired to represent the City of Monroe's interest in a discrimination complaint has received a one-week extension to respond.
Kevin Reak, of Gunta and Reak, Milwaukee, said he received the extension in order to speak to Paul Kinne, the attorney of former city employee Janelle Bittner, Monroe, who initiated the complaint.
Bittner filed the complaint with the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) May 1. The city received its copy May 7, and had until June 6 to respond, before the extension. Reak is scheduled to meet with Kinne June 10.
"I wanted to talk to Bittner's lawyer to get a feeling for what his client is looking for," Reak said.
Reak said Kinne needed time to speak with Bittner before their meeting.
Reak was hired by City and Village Mutual Insurance Company, through which the city has liability insurance, including legal liabilities.
Kinne filed Bittner's complaint with the DWD Equal Rights Division.
In the complaint, former City Administrator Mark Vahlsing is accused of having made "sexual advances toward Bittner," beginning in December 2007. Vahlsing was one of Bittner's direct supervisors at the time.
According to the statement, Vahlsing later "falsely informed" Bittner that a city employee had complained about her. He then allegedly told Bittner that her reputation would be ruined if he had to fire her and advised her to quit. Bittner resigned, in lieu of being fired, according to her complaint.
Bittner worked for the city as a confidential administrative assistant from May 21, 2007, until April 2, 2008.
The City Council voted 8-2 on May 14 to terminate Vahlsing, due to failure to perform his duties as the city's human resources manager.
Kevin Reak, of Gunta and Reak, Milwaukee, said he received the extension in order to speak to Paul Kinne, the attorney of former city employee Janelle Bittner, Monroe, who initiated the complaint.
Bittner filed the complaint with the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) May 1. The city received its copy May 7, and had until June 6 to respond, before the extension. Reak is scheduled to meet with Kinne June 10.
"I wanted to talk to Bittner's lawyer to get a feeling for what his client is looking for," Reak said.
Reak said Kinne needed time to speak with Bittner before their meeting.
Reak was hired by City and Village Mutual Insurance Company, through which the city has liability insurance, including legal liabilities.
Kinne filed Bittner's complaint with the DWD Equal Rights Division.
In the complaint, former City Administrator Mark Vahlsing is accused of having made "sexual advances toward Bittner," beginning in December 2007. Vahlsing was one of Bittner's direct supervisors at the time.
According to the statement, Vahlsing later "falsely informed" Bittner that a city employee had complained about her. He then allegedly told Bittner that her reputation would be ruined if he had to fire her and advised her to quit. Bittner resigned, in lieu of being fired, according to her complaint.
Bittner worked for the city as a confidential administrative assistant from May 21, 2007, until April 2, 2008.
The City Council voted 8-2 on May 14 to terminate Vahlsing, due to failure to perform his duties as the city's human resources manager.