PORT ANGELES — Former Clallam County employee Dale Holiday has settled her racial and sexual discrimination claim for $15,000.
The money was to be paid to her lawyer’s law firm in Tacoma “in trust for Holiday.”
She had until 5 p.m. Friday to revoke the settlement, which she did not, according to county officials.
Holiday also agreed to resign her position as a Clallam County Health & Human Services grant coordinator effective Aug. 1, according to the settlement agreement, which was obtained Friday by the Peninsula Daily News under a public records request.
As part of the settlement, Holiday, an African-American, agreed to withdraw the complaints she filed earlier this year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the state Human Rights Commission.
Holiday said she received low job-performance evaluations and a warning letter, had to develop weekly task lists unlike other department employees and was denied approval to attend the Montana Summer Institute for 2013, held at Big Sky Resort in Montana.
She said in her complaint that the actions were based “on my race, black; and are in retaliation for my protests of race discrimination; and are based on my sex, female.”
‘Doubtful claim’
“It is further agreed that this is a compromise of a disputed and doubtful claim,” the agreement said, “and that neither the payments to Holiday by the county or this settlement agreement and release shall operate or be interpreted as an admission of liability as to any of the claims, actions or suits, past, present of future, known or unknown, Holiday has or might have asserted in the future.”
Holiday, a former candidate for county commissioner, turned in her keys and cleaned out her desk Aug. 2, a day after the settlement was reached during a confidential mediation session in Seattle.
Her salary was $51,958 annually.
In addition, her husband, Max Mania, resigned his City Council position the next day and left his City Hall keys in his council mailbox, he said in an email to City Manager Dan McKeen, whom he called the “captain of a sinking ship.”
He said he resigned because he had moved out of Clallam County but added:
“You know almost as well as anyone, Dan, what Dale and I have been subjected to here, simply for trying to do our part to help this community grow, prosper and move into the 21st century.”
Mania had been a controversial figure, accused of “inappropriate and offensive conduct” by another City Council member and “unethical” behavior by the former Clallam County Democratic Party vice chair.
Neither Mania nor Holiday could be reached for comment Friday.
Barred from commenting
Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones told the PDN that he was barred from commenting by the terms of the settlement.
The only statement Holiday or county officials can make is a one-sentence joint statement that acknowledges a settlement agreement that resolves “all issues to the satisfaction of both parties.”
If there is a request for employment references or a signed employment information release from Holiday about her employment with the county, Human Resources Director Rich Sill can provide only information given in a 10-sentence statement describing her employment with the county, according to “Exhibit A” of the agreement.
It says she was employed by the county Department of Community development in June 2007 as an assistant planner and was shortly afterward promoted to associate planner through November 2009, when she became a Health & Human Services grant coordinator until Aug. 1.
Job description
As an associate planner, she interpreted the zoning code and critical areas ordinance.
As a grant coordinator, she administered the federally funded “Drug Free Communities Grant,” coordinating speakers for training and education events, and working with community organizations on outreach related to youth substance-abuse prevention.
The county also must provide a copy of the agreement to any person who requests it, according to the settlement.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
