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Show i I NewTschoolIzoneJaw FormeKemployee G5ue?SalinaICity See Related Story on page 1 See Related Story on page 1 ' 'V J See Related Stories throughout this issue Price 50 Cents Wednesday, December 23, 1992 Volume 70 Number 51 Former Salina City employee sues the City The State of Utah Industrial Commission made a determination in favor of Virginia Crane in her claim that she was pressured into earquitting her job for Salina City lier this year because of age discrimination. The determination by the state reviews the information as presented Attorby both parties. Salina City Mike Jorgensen, explained that ney, the city has opted to appeal this decision and request a formal hearing from the commission. Virginia was an employee of Salina City since April of 1980. She explains in her allegations that she has been constantly busy in her positions with the police and court de7 partments. After working for 6 or further asserts that she was harassed by the city major as well as Judge Wasden and Police Chief Gordon Kiesel about retiring and quitting her job. Crane also explained that she is qualified to continue employment with the City, that there were problems, not with her lack of ability to operate the new software program, rather Judge Wasdens refusal to allow her to operate the computer system. She went on to explain that whatever errors or mistakes that she made were few and unimportant years her hours, along with the others working in the city offices, were reduced to 32 hours a week with no extra help and no decrease in the workload. She claimed that she informed the city council members of this situation, but was ignored. She charges that she was forced to retire because of her age. She Winners named in final drawing of 'Salina Letters' Last Saturdays drawing was the final for this year's 'Salina Scrabble' game. Lucky winners of $100 gift certificates which can be used at participating businesses, were the following: Virginia Stanley Wesley Andreason Ashley Burr Rose Wichael Candy Johnson Tommy Burr Our congratulations to these and all winners of this year's contest, sponsored by KSVC and the Salina Chamber of Commerce. Vehicles will be towed away at your expense! It is especially important at this time of year for Salina residents to remember that they must not park their vehicles on the side streets in front of their homes, according to Police Chief Gordon Kiesel. The reason for this is that any vehicles parked there will be in the way of the city street maintenance crews as they remove snow from the roads. Chief Kiesel adds that if your car is in the way of the snow removal crew, it will be towed away - at your expense. Lets all cooperate with the maintenance crews so that our streets can be free from snow and travelable at all times, Chief Kiesel concluded. Aurora man to face 98 counts of sexual abuse Leonard Scott, 42, of Aurora, appeared before Sixth District Court Judge Don V. Tibbs last week. After plea bargaining broke down, it was decided to charge Scott with all 98 charges of sexual abuse of a child. Charges also included aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sodomy of a child, and rape of a child - which carry jail or prison sentence. Scott had been given the opportunity to plead guilty to the later three of the charges, and the reamin-de- r of the charges would be dropped. However, according to Judge Tibbs, negotiations broke down. The Judge said that the 98 counts of sexual abuse of a child can be broken down to 1 count per month for the past eight years. The new charges against Scott were filed last Friday. Further details were not available at press time. and easily correctable. And that some were not even her mistakes. She also stated that she was unable to balance the city checkbook because of the pressure and harassment put on her by the city and her extremely busy workload. Salina City gave the commission written answers to the claims made by Crane. They claimed that Crane was not discriminated on the basis of age, rather, the city made every effort to train Crane and make her a competent employee. The city also contends that the decision to reduce Cranes hours was not based upon her age but was based upon her inability to perform the job description and that Crane shoe to completely terminate her employment with the city. As far as training Virginia on the computer the city claims that she had more than necessary time for the average operator to become proficient. And it was because of Cranes inability to operate the computer resulted in the necessity of running manual and computer systems in parallel to achieve accuracy. The city contends that despite Cranes continued protestations that she was competent, continual errors, misinformation and delays occurred. She informed the city that she was going to retire upon reaching age 65 and she was told that they would work with her until then so that she would have full benefits. It was Virginia, in December of 1991, that decided that she did not want to retire as she had previously stated. At this point in time her job description was changed and her hours were reduced to 16 per week. Crane then resigned by letter on January 13, 1992. Crane is asking Salina City to provide her with a position commensurate with the position of Police Department Secrehtrv and Court Clerk effective immediately. She is also asking that the city give her ail lost wages plus 10 and that no retaliation be brought against her for bringing this action. She also asks that the city pay for attorney fees and to comply with Utah Act. |