by Charlotte Burrous
Fremont County Crusader
February 7, 2022

During the visitors’ section of the meeting on Monday, several residents spoke out about the issues in Florence.
Florence resident Tim Jordan asked about the statement the city issued that was printed in the Fremont County Crusader,
where there were several references to the total cost of the previous lawsuit that was brought against the city after an incident in which former city manager Michael Patterson was
involved.
“It said there was a $1,000
deductible and a $54,290.85
settlement,” he said. “One loss also includes $36,695.03 in expenses paid and $11,377 in legal (fees) for a total cost of $102,362.88. I wonder why that wasn’t included.” (see attached Florence Q&A response he is referring to here.)
Jordan also noted the council approved Patterson’s contract that was signed November 4, 2019, but the settlement itself was not settled until November 13, 2019.
“I’d like to know why council issued Mr. Patterson an amendment to his contract nine days before the settlement of his lawsuit and one day before the election,” Jordan continued. “There’s been some commentary about those.”
He then read several comments from the minutes from November 4, 2019.
At the end of the November 19, 2019, meeting, the council went into executive session to determine position in matters that may be subject to negotiation and developing strategy of negotiations and instructing negotiators. When the council returned to chambers, a motion was made by Councilor Paul Villagrana and seconded by Councilor Mike Vendetti to approve the 13th amendment to the city manager’s contract.
“I’d like to know why that was done by you two before this settlement was done and one day before an election,” Jordan asked. “I’ve asked you several times. You admitted you never saw the contract. How does anybody from council go into executive session and come out and vote on a contract they never saw?”
For the record, Councilors Villangrana, Knisley, Vendetti, Baker, Upton and Mayor Ore voted on this contract. The next day, the election happened. Councilors Krystal Wood, Anthony Esquibel and Brian Allen were sworn in on November 18, 2019, and Melissa Hardy was sworn in 2020.
“They were not a part of … any settlement or part of this contract that was voted on by previous council,” Jordan continued. “That needs to be added into the record. I think some of current council have been raked over the coals because of this contract and they were not a part of it.”
After he spoke, current employee Sarah Glenn, who has worked at the water plant for a year and a half, spoke about her harassment and discrimination. She said it started when she objected to the male’s obscene gesture. When she reported it, she said she was discriminated against and made to do more work than her male counterparts.
“I am threatened with write ups and termination over lesser issues twice as much as the other men I work with,” Glenn said. “I am given much less opportunity to operate heavy equipment or participate in water operator or distribution experiences. When I bring matters to Brandon over the way I am treated by co-workers, I am not taken seriously, but if someone else comes up with something against me, it’s immediately on the block for discussion and I continually have to prove that I haven’t done anything wrong by providing a recording of the incident!”
She said she still hasn’t been allowed to go back to work even though the investigations found she did nothing wrong. She even sent an email to council asking them to help her, but she heard nothing from any of them.
After she spoke, the council made the following decisions:

Approved a resolution adopting a sick bank for employees, Approved a temporary premises modification for the Florence Brewing Company,
Approved an ordinance regarding city ordinances.

For more on new lawsuits against the City of Florence,
See our internet paper. (Feb 11, 2022 isssue)