Several threads on this blog have been weakened and misdirected by information and questions involving the racial discrimination suit that was brought by Mrs. Lisa White against the County. In order for the other threads to follow their topics I am presenting this topic as it’s own thread.
The County settled the case after the EEOC found the county was guilty of racial discrimination which resulted in Mrs. White being awarded $72,000.00 from the county. Half paid by the county and half by the insurance carrier.
This suit resulted when the Financial Management Committee took applications for the position of The Financial Management Director. The Committee in charge of these applications was made up of County Executive J. Vanzant; School Director T. Jackson; Highway Superintendent B. Hyatt; Commissioners S. Jackson, R. Flacy, C. Howell and T. Campbell. Both Commissioners Connie Howell and Tommy Campbell resigned from the committee before the final selection was made.
Some interesting side notes are that; the County Executive refused to appoint anyone to this committee but commissioners; sent unapproved requirements with applications to be evaluated (instead of a requirement for five years experience with county or city government the requirement was altered to read five years experience with Giles County Government) this resulted in none of the first applicants but Judy Roberts being qualified. The County Executive reported no applicants qualified and lowered the qualifications and raised the salary this in spite of several applicants having received over 200 out of a possible 300 points. The County Executive then solicited and accepted an application from a friend who had no accounting degree from any college level program. Finally when the County Executive was forced to hold public meetings on these applications they decided to hold secret ballots each time they voted on the candidates. Finally after I was told if I didn’t like what they were doing, “get a lawyer”. I contacted DA Bottoms filed a complaint and he contacted the county attorney Scott Spear with instructions to nullify the procedures and begin the process again.
All the applicants resumes were sent to the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia and were evaluated under the direction of the Director James Youngquist Each applicant was assigned a numerical grade from 1 to 300.
The names and evaluation numbers were as follows Lisa White 260; James Murphy 250; Lorretta Garner 240; Dana Bowman 240; Judy Roberts 230; Elizabeth Sigmon 200. There were others but no one else scored above 131.
Mrs. Roberts withdrew before her interview.
Mrs. White was the only person in the top five who was not granted an interview. This led to her contacting the EEOC and them holding and investigation. They found the County Executive and committee had violated Mrs. White’s Civil Rights and issued a finding to the county announcing they were prepared to enter the case in federal court. The county then decided they would not dispute the claim and paid Mrs. White $72,000.00 the equivalent of one years salary as the Financial Management Director. Allen Barrett
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