ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 18, 1997 TAG: 9704180075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR THE ROANOKE TIMES
One employee and two ex-employees told the Roanoke Valley SPCA board of directors that shelter director Al Alexander sexually harassed them.
The Virginia Council on Human Rights is investigating discrimination complaints filed by one current and two former employees against the Roanoke Valley SPCA.
Council Director Roxie Raines Kornegay this week notified Diane Farren, Debra Flanary and Melinda Chambers in separate letters that the council, a state agency, would be "moving forward with an investigation of your alleged complaint."
The complaints stem from claims the three women brought before the SPCA board of directors in November. They accused SPCA shelter director Al Alexander of sexual harassment.
"The board failed to give us a procedure we could go through to complain," Flanary said Thursday. "And they did not resolve the situation to our satisfaction.
"The complaints were filed. The procedure is going to start. And we have plans to see this through, even if it takes going to court."
The SPCA's attorney, Doug Henson, could not be reached for comment.
Flanary said the council advised her, Farren and Chambers not to discuss details of the case until the investigation has been completed.
Alexander said Thursday that he did not know what specific accusations the three women made against him. He took a short leave of absence in December while the board looked into their claims, he said.
"Then I came back to work, and I never brought it up again," he said. "I don't know any specific details. I'm numb. I don't know what their motivations are.
"I don't have time to worry about it. I've got a shelter to build, adoptions to do. That's where my mind is."
Alexander has been shelter director since 1993. Farren, who has been on medical leave since Jan.3, has been shelter supervisor since 1995.
Flanary is the shelter's former office manager. Chambers is the former assistant shelter supervisor.
Flanary said she, Farren and Chambers considered filing their complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the EEOC handles only cases involving places of employment that have at least 15 employees. The SPCA shelter has 14 employees, she said.
They went instead to the state Council on Human Rights, she said.
In her letters, Kornegay wrote that the council has provided the SPCA a summary of the complaints and advised the organization of the administrative procedures that the council uses to resolve discrimination claims - "mediation, investigation and conciliation."
Kornegay also wrote that the council recommends mediation in almost every case.
"Mediation is voluntary, cost-effective, informal and expedient," she wrote. "If both parties are willing to participate, mediation can effect an expeditious closure while maintaining the integrity of the Council's mission."
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