Allegations of sexual harassment trigger “impartial investigation”

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EVANSTON, IL City officials have announced plans to hire an outside law firm to conduct a “full and impartial investigation” into the handling of allegations of widespread sexual harassment against female staff at Parks Department beaches, Evanston Recreation and Community Services.

After several hours of closed-door city council discussions on Saturday night, city staff on Monday revised the public statement they issued in response to a report detailing allegations of widespread sexual misconduct and abuse of female rescuers and employees. working for the Town of Evanston.

In the first version of the statement from the city manager’s office, staff said they were “confident that the appropriate measures have been taken to address the serious issues raised,” but this language was removed from the update.

Also cut from the Friday afternoon statement: the claim that city staff made repeated efforts to identify those accused of misconduct but were unable to do so as all complaints were anonymous.

Instead of expressing confidence that city staff have acted appropriately, the statement now only expresses confidence that actions taken in response to allegations outlined in last week’s WBEZ report have “improved” the environment. working by the lake.

“Having said that, the City is also aware that this is only the beginning,” the revised statement continued. “It takes continuous and sustained work to transform a culture, and every resident, every beach guest and, in particular, every lakeside employee has the right to full transparency regarding all of the City’s actions and processes in this regard. Therefore, the Town of Evanston will engage an outside firm to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into every aspect of the situation, and share further updates with the community. in a close future.

Despite the promise of “full transparency regarding all city actions and processes to date,” City Manager Erika Storlie did not respond to questions regarding employees who were put on administrative leave as a result of the report. WBEZ, employees who resigned and who in the parks department, if any, were fired in response to allegations of misconduct by the lake.

The city’s official statement says only “one male employee has not been rehired for the 2021 season” following discussions with seasonal beach staff. But sources tell Patch that at least one senior city official has been put on administrative leave.

Both versions of the statement acknowledge that representatives from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Human Resources Division spoke to the petitioners, but did not identify the senior officials who participated in the process. conversation. The statement from Storlie’s office also does not specify when she learned of the allegations.

Questions emailed to Human Relations Manager Jennifer Lin regarding when and if she informed someone of the rescuers’ petition were automatically answered indicating that Lin was out of the office indefinitely for reasons not. specified.

Lawrence Hemingway, head of the parks department, declined to answer questions about when he learned of the petition and with whom, if so, he shared it.

RELATED: Widespread Sexual Harassment at Evanston Lakefront, Staff Alerted

Last summer’s allegations of a culture of sexism rampant among seasonal beach workers followed earlier allegations of harassment of full-time Parks Department staff.

As Evanston Patch reported in November 2019, a former Parks Department member publicly accused Hemingway of sexual harassment and Lin of covering it up.

Porchia Davis, former deputy director of youth and young adult services, said she was not the only woman in the office to be harassed by Hemingway, who did not publicly respond to her allegations.

“You all did nothing to prevent staff from being openly targeted, harassed and, for me, sexually,” Davis told city staff and the city councilor at the time. “I once again ask the municipal council that an independent investigation be carried out on the current director of the Parks and Recreation Department for harassment and the Directorate of Human Resources [Division that] actively participated in this cover-up operation. “

A human relations investigation determined that Hemingway created an unhealthy work environment and made sexual comments on social media about an employee, according to a February 2019 disciplinary action form. Hemingway apologized and took responsibility and received a written reprimand. The “previous discipline delivered” part of the form is drafted.

Former mayor Steve Hagerty did not answer questions about his handling of the allegations. Records show Hagerty was made aware of the outstanding petition about a month after her organizers first met with the parks department and human resources staff. But it could not be determined what actions, if any, he took in response.

Mayor Daniel Biss said he started investigating the allegations as soon as he became aware of them, but he has not yet specified when. He told Patch the city will identify the outside company leading the investigation as soon as a deal is reached.

Patch has also sought feedback from the rest of city council. All responses received will be added here.

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