CONTRACTS DROPPED AFTER STAFF CHANGES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 20, 1993                   TAG: 9303200244
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: MARION                                LENGTH: Medium
CONTRACTS DROPPED AFTER STAFF CHANGES
The towns of Wytheville and Independence have dropped contracts for work to be performed by the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, following the resignations of five commission employees from a 14-member staff over five months.
The commission, based in Marion, had been administering a Wytheville community-improvement grant for low-income housing, road and utilities improvements. The town now has hired Sarah Lawson, one of the commission employees who resigned, to administer that project.
The town of Independence has canceled its participation in the commission's roving town manager program, following the resignation of the staff member who handled its managerial duties.
The resignations began when Phyllis M. Davidson, a 17-year commission employee, left Oct. 15. She had been working as a secretary and fiscal planner.
She filed a grievance against Tom Taylor, the commission's executive director, which was denied by the Equal Opportunity Commission. She has appealed that decision. A hearing on the appeal is scheduled April 19 at 9:30 a.m. in Marion.
Davidson had charged sexual harassment by Taylor, based on the pay scale for men and women and physical advances. Taylor had no comment Thursday on the matter because it is in litigation.
He said earlier that he had refused to give Davidson a raise beyond what was budgeted. Ralph Reynolds, an executive committee member from Bland County, has said he tried to get more money for Davidson so she wouldn't leave.
Lawson and Martha M. Short, both planning and public administration specialists, announced their resignations Feb. 4. Lawson's resignation was effective immediately. Short worked through February.
Lawson claimed that Taylor had tried to intimidate employees, ordered them not to talk with a commission executive committee member, and changed time sheets and mileage records. Short did not give her reasons for leaving.
Lawson had been a town manager for Fries. Short was a special projects planner for Saltville.
Next to hand in a resignation was Guy C. Davidson Jr., no relation to Phyllis Davidson. He submitted his resignation Feb. 22 to become effective in mid-March, saying he was dissatisfied with the handling of personnel procedures.
He had served as town manager for Independence under the commission's roving manager program and as administrator of the commission's revolving loan fund.
A fifth employee announced her resignation March 1. April Edmondson, a planner and public administration specialist, said she was resigning because of stress and tension in the offices but would work through the first week of April.
Taylor had no comment Thursday on the resignations other than to say that some of those who left had only a year or two of experience, and have been replaced by two people with 10 or more years of experience.
"So we're replacing inexperienced people with experienced people," he said. "The only thing I can say is that no problem has ever been filed, verbal or written, to the executive director by any of the people who have left."
Taylor has been with the commission for 23 years, and its executive director for 13.
He said two towns canceling contracts was not a problem. "With all of them, we have a 30-day notice by either party to alter the contract," he said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB