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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04232018 City Council Laydown - FosterTamara rostor po Box Oro 45,oward, ?YJajka 9.966* February 08, 2018 Dear Kris, It is with sadness that I write this letter to inform you of my decision to resign my position as Personnel Officer/Executive Assistant, effective May 4, 2018. 1 have been in my position for two years and have enjoyed the people I work with, the employees I support, and my job duties. Thank you for all the support that you, Jim, and Ron have extended to me during my time at the City. You have all been nothing but helpful and supportive, and it means more to me than you will ever know. I would like to attach the enclosed breakdown of some reasons I have decided to leave the City. I just want to be clear that I am NOT leaving employment due to any conflict or leadership issues with Finance or Administration. Kris Erchinger, Jim Hunt, and Ron Long are stellar leaders who believe in the process and their employees. They are professional, courteous, supportive, and encouraging. I understand that Council feels turnover has been "high", but my decision to leave employment has absolutely nothing to do with the leadership of Mr. Hunt and Mr. Long —they continue to remain consummate professionals ... and gentlemen. I feel privileged to be mentored by you, Kris. Thank you for teaching me so much, making me feel like part of the team, and for always "going to the 9th ring of Hell" to protect and support your staff. Leaders lead from the front and you are definitely the frontrunner. I will miss my job and the wonderful colleagues I have had the pleasure of working with over this time. I cannot thank you enough for all of the opportunities and experiences you have provided me during my time with the company. With kind regards, Tamara Foster TLF: cc: Jim Hunt Ron Long City Council Enclosure Tamara Foster Resignation Enclosure This past year that has been especially difficult due to on -going direct vendettas by several City Council Members (Casagranda and Towsley): • Current and former City Employees, along with the above -mentioned members of Council, have been trying to disband the present Administration without providing any proof of their claims or any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Administration, under the guise of fulfilling the wishes of their "constituents". • Manufactured rumors have been declared as "truth" to the community, with real life defamation allegations ruining reputations of current City Employees, and potentially gravely damaging earning potential. In addition, the numerous vexatious grievances/harassment claims are at an all-time high, and are still escalating due to the puppeteering of Ms. Towsley and Ms. Casagranda. • These council members (along with former City employees, all of whom have all willingly resigned) have taken their own personal vendettas in the public forum; it disrupts the office workflow, stirs up disagreements, and is insulting to employees who disagree with their position. • 1 have relayed my growing concerns of targeted bullying and hostility in the workplace to two Mayor's, and ended up sending a "Cease and Desist" letter on my own to try to stop the harassment/defamation by Suzi Towsley (June 2017). • Ms. Erchinger and I have been stalked and targeted for no reason other than to fulfill the threat of "removing Jim, Ron, Kris and the others". • The current Administration has been professional, understanding to sensitive situations, and genuinely wants the City Employees to continue enjoy working here. Never have I seen them "bully" anyone, nor be unprofessional. • The claims against my direct Supervisor, Ms. Kris Erchinger for "illegal activities" are bogus and unfounded. Now I understand they are going after BDO for "covering up these illegal activities". That is beyond preposterous and slanderous. There is no proof ... only more allegations by the former City employees and these same Council Members conspiring to pass off accusations as "facts" to disparage Kris, Jim, and Ron. • 1 have learned many things in. my time here, including what makes a hostile work environment and that Council is grossly interfering in Administration due to their own personal agendas. It is disruptive, unethical, repulsive, and disrespectful for those of us who support The City and this Administration. • 1 continue to be defamed by people I do not know —who also do not know me or the amount/quality of work I have completed since being hired. • Gossip has taken center stage to the WORK. Council and employees with bogus vendettas need to be held accountable fortheir actions. There is no place for an "us" vs. "them" environment at work... it should be The City, as a team, working together. • Most recently, I feel like my safety and the safety of City Hall has been compromised. I do not want to work in an environment where I am afraid of physically harm, nor should any employee be made to feel this way. • 1 have had to seek both medical and pharmaceutical assistance (multiple times) to manage the gross amount of stress and anxiety placed on me for these reasons. These are only a few of my concerns of why I must sever my ties with City of Seward. NOTE. None of these reasons are due to the leadership of Ms. Erchinger, Mr. Hunt, or Mr. Long. `bV /e`Y� MEMORANDUM DATE: APRIL 17, 2017 TO: CITY OF SEWARD COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: TAMARA FOSTER SUBJECT: LIVING ARRANGEMENTS I would like to clarify a few of the inaccuracies that continue to circulate throughout the community: 1) 1 am currently renting a room in the home of Karin Sturdy, while I continue to look for adequate housing for myself and my dog. I continue to search for acceptable housing, although I don't know why this topic persists in being so interesting. 2) 1 informed Jim Hunt last September 2016, when I moved into Ms. Sturdy's home. 3) Ms. Sturdy does not supervise me and is not related to me by blood or in any way. This is still not a violation of any of the City of Seward policies. 'I can only assume that this rumor started because I had Ms. Sturdy listed on my Facebook as "Grandma". Anyone can see she is clearly not my grandmother. 4) 1 am not/nor have I ever been a lesbian. As most of you know, legally your employer cannot ask you to identify your sexual orientation, however, I do not feel like anyone is preventing the gossip from spreading either, so I am happy to disclose this information. 5) 1 have NEVER resided in the same house as Kris Erchinger, my current supervisor. Ms. Erchinger had moved out of the Sturdy home prior to my moving in. 6) 1 do have a house in Anchorage and will continue to pay for it while my only child is still in college. This is an agreement that I made with him when he was still in grade school, however, I do not see how this should affect one single person in the town of Seward, Alaska. 7) My door is always open, should any of you have questions; I am happy to answer any item that continues to be apparently interesting/controversial to certain members of Council, or "constituents" of said members. I have absolutely nothing to hide and would rather be available to answer questions from you as a body, rather than artificial information being passed off as truth throughout the community. Sincerely, Tamara Foster Personnel Officer CC: Jim Hunt • City Manager Ron Long • Assistant City Manager Will Earnhart • Attorney Rev. 07/25/16 Tamara Foster PO Box 410 Seward, Alaska 99664 May 4, 2017 Ms. Suzi Towsley PO Box 1333 Seward, Alaska 99664 Re: CEASE AND DESIST ORDER Dear Ms. Towsley: This letter is in response to your actions with regard to defamatory and slanderous statements about me and my performance at my job for the City of Seward, also for instigating negative opinions about me on both on social media and throughout the community. The gossip persists and these defamatory remarks have recently come to my attention; I am asking you to cease and desist these actions immediately. You are crossing a line between professionalism and personal that will not be tolerated. Making accusatory public statements about my reputation, which includes defamatory and critical manufactured information about my integrity, while verbally attacking me on social media accounts is causing me severe emotional distress and anxiety. Please try to understand that whether you like me or not is NOT the issue. I am someone's mother and daughter ... I doubt that you would take such similar attacks on you and your family as "just overreacting" nor consider it "entertainment value" and the public's "right to know". I am excellent at my job and I have done nothing but stellar work since the day I started; much of which included cleaning up many files for my predecessor. Your continued actions, along with those in your clique, have become unbearable to me and these activities are in violation of my right to be free of such harassment. I have met you one time briefly and do not know what I have done to you personally to deserve this attack by you and your internet trolls. You are not truth seeking, as much as trying to purposely ruin someone's life who is in Seward to do the best work I can possibly do. This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER demands that you immediately discontinue and do not at any point in the future under any circumstances do the following to me: speak to; contact, pursue, harass, attack, strike, bump into, brush up against, push, tap, grab, hold, threaten, telephone (via cellular or landline), instant message, page, fax, email, follow, stalk, shadow, disturb my peace, keep me under surveillance, gather information about and/or block my movements at home, work, social gatherings or religious functions, as well as any other actions that may constitute harassment or violate my legal rights. If you fail to comply with this notice, legal action will promptly be brought against you, including having law enforcement pursue criminal charges and recovering any and all damages I have suffered, through civil court for physical and mental distress or otherwise. I am not waiving any present or future rights to pursue legal action against you. This matter is not open to any further negotiation or discussion. To prevent legal action from being pursued against you, you must sign, date, and return the attached Cease and Desist Agreement to the address listed above within 7-days of receipt of this notice. Your failure to sign and return this agreement will be used as evidence in future legal action of your continuing violation of my legal rights. Sincerely, Tamara L. Foster Enclosure CC: - Tamara foster PO Box 410 Seward, Alaska 99664 CEASE AND DESIST AGREEMENT 0 In response to the Cease and Desist Order I received from Tamara Foster, dated May 4 2017; I, Suzi Towsley, agree to immediately cease and desist engaging the following activities: Making false public statements about Ms. Foster and her reputation, which are defamatory and threatening; I will discontinue manufacturing data that I have no proof/or no actual knowledge of, which is currently causing severe emotional distress and anxiety to Ms. Foster from my actions. These activities are in violation of Tamara Foster's legal rights. I further agree to not take any other actions that may constitute harassment or violate Tamara Foster's legal rights. If I breach this agreement, Tamara Foster may pursue all claims and legal remedies in existence prior to my signing this agreement, including all costs and attorney's fees, present and future. Sign: Date: Printed Name: 7 Tamara Foster P.O. Box 410 Seward, Alaska 99664 February 22, 2018 Ms. Suzi Towsley PO Box 1333 Seward, Alaska 99664 Re: 2nd CEASE AND DESIST ORDER Dear Ms. Towsley: This letter is in response to your actions that continue (even after I sent you the first Cease and Desist Order last May 2017) with regard to defamatory and slanderous statements about me, and my performance at my job for the City of Seward. Also, for instigating negative and defamatory judgments about me on both on social media and throughout the community. Th6gossip persists and these slanderous accusations by you continue non-stop; I am asking you to cease and desist these actions immediately. You are crossing a line between professionalism and personal hostilities that will not be tolerated. As a Council Member, you should know better that what you puppeteer is cruel and hateful just for the sake of your entertainment. Shame on you, Ms. Towsley. Making accusatory public statements about my reputation, which includes defamatory and critical manufactured information about my integrity and professionalism, while verbally attacking me on social media accounts is causing me severe emotional distress and anxiety. Please try to understand that whether you like me or not is NOT the issue. I am someone's mother and daughter ... I doubt that you would take such similar attacks on you and your family as "just overreacting" nor consider it "entertainment value' and the public's "right to know" and "transparency" is a ruse from you to get good people fired for no reason other than your personal vendettas. I am excellent at my job and I have done nothing but stellar work since the day I started, much of which included cleaning up many files for my predecessor (26 banker boxes to be exact). You have no proof AT ALL that I am not doing my job to the absolute best of my ability. IF you do, I encourage you to produce it IMMEDIATELY or cease your libelous statements. Your continued actions, along with those in your clique, have become unbearable to me and these activities are in violation of my right to be free of such harassment. I have met you one time briefly and do not know what I have done to you personally to deserve this attack by you and your internet trolls. You are not truth seeking, as much as trying to purposely ruin someone's life who is in Seward simply to do the best work I can possibly do. As I am sure you recently read, your actions have directly affected my decision to resign my position at the City. I can only hope that you give the next candidate the professionalism and respect that you didn't bother give me. This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER demands that you immediately discontinue and do not at any point in the future under any circumstances do the following to me: speak to, contact, pursue, harass, attack, strike, bump into, brush up against, push, tap, grab, hold, threaten, telephone (via cellular or landline), instant message, page, fax, email, follow, stalk, shadow, disturb my peace, keep me under surveillance, gather information about and/or block my movements at home, work, social gatherings or religious functions, as well as any other actions that may constitute harassment or violate my legal rights. If you fail to comply with this notice, legal action will promptly be brought against you, including having law enforcement pursue criminal charges and recovering any and all damages I have suffered, through civil court for physical and mental distress or otherwise. I am not waiving any present or future rights to pursue legal action against you. This matter is not open to any further negotiation or discussion... THIS IS YOUR LAST NOTICE BEFORE I PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. A age TamaraFoster P.O. Box 410 Seward, Alaska 99664 To prevent legal action from being pursued againstyou, you must sign, date, and return the attached Cease and Desist Agreement to the address listed above within 7-days of receipt of this notice. Your failure to sign and return this agreement will be used as evidence in future legal action of your continuing violation of my legal rights. Sincerely, Tamara L. Foster Enclosure cc: Slaten, Attorney Council Members City Manager CEASE AND DESIST AGREEMENT In response to the Cease and Desist Order I received from Tamara Foster, dated February 22, 2018; I, Suzi Towsley, agree to immediately cease and desist engaging the following activities: Making false public statements about Ms. Foster and her reputation, which are defamatory and threatening; I will discontinue manufacturing data that I have no prooffor no actual knowledge of. which is currently causing severe emotional distress and anxiety to Ms. Foster from my actions... This includes disparaging comments throughout the community and on social media. These activities are in violation of Tamara Foster's legal rights. I further agree to not take any other actions that may constitute harassment or violate Tamara Foster's legal rights. If I breach this agreement, Tamara Foster may pursue all claims and legal remedies in existence prior to my signing this agreement, including all costs and attorney's fees, present and future. Sign: Printed N Date: q;1 2 1 P a g e