By Brittany Wallman
Staff writer

January 24, 2002

FORT LAUDERDALE · Gay employees will get further protection from being mistreated in the city workplace when the city rewrites its harassment policy.

The city had written a new anti-harassment, anti-discrimination policy and distributed it early this month as part of steps the city is taking to correct alleged workplace problems. But city commissioners agreed unanimously Wednesday that it needs to be revised again to include protection for homosexual employees.

The suggestion came as city commissioners discussed persistent allegations that city employees are mistreated, and City Manager Floyd Johnson provided a status report on his recent promises to address workplace issues. He has called for more training for supervisors, additional complaint-office staff and a poll of all city employees.

Problems have not abated despite city action. Commissioners approved a settlement Wednesday in the case of Katrenia McCutchen, who had filed a hostile workplace lawsuit. The city agreed to pay $450,000, including legal fees. McCutchen had been awarded a $638,936 judgment last year in her suit, and the city had appealed. Insurance will pay about $99,000 of the cost.

Commissioners supported Johnson's efforts, but also suggested he put out a newsletter every 60 days outlining what he has done to fix the workplace in order to counter what they called negative and unfair media coverage.

"We're not perfect," said Vice Mayor Gloria Katz, "but we're not the ogres we've been made out to be."

Commissioners also agreed with Mayor Jim Naugle's suggestion that the city's policies include a prohibition against supervisors dating subordinates and hiring subordinates to work on their homes.

Commissioner Carlton Moore and other commissioners said Johnson has their full support to make changes.

"We've given strong comment that each of us wants results to this," Moore said.

Katz demanded deadlines and follow-up on each of Johnson's plans.

"I just want to be sure we keep following up, that we don't let this slide," she said.

"You've got to move ahead as boldly as you can and as speedily as you can," said Commissioner Tim Smith. "It's an important issue. The citizenry is very concerned about it."

Smith suggested the gay-protection clause, and the idea was supported by his colleagues -- even Naugle, who has taken a conservative stance on gay issues in the past. Naugle voted against a 1997 change in the city's diversity policy to offer job opportunities without regard to sexual orientation, family status or political party. And he was the sole vote supporting continued funding for the Boy Scouts in 2000, when his colleagues voted to cut off their money because they exclude gays from scout leadership.

"We can't discriminate against someone from Sarajevo," Smith said, reading the current policy, "but if we have a gay person, we can discriminate against them. ... In this day and age, it's ridiculous not to have it in there."

Gays already are protected by any county, state or federal anti-discrimination laws that provide safeguards based on sexual orientation. But the commission's move gives added protection to city employees who may think they lost a promotion, job opportunity or were mistreated because of their sexual orientation.

Moore said the city should look beyond how it treats its employees to assess how it deals with minority businesses. He suggested the city needs to study whether it is providing fair opportunities for minority businesses to compete for and win city contracts.

Brittany Wallman can be contacted at bwallman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4541.