FOREST HILL -- City Secretary Grace Edwards, who at one time had filed a sexual-harassment complaint against a council member, was fired by the Forest Hill City Council late Tuesday for poor performance after about two years in the post.
"Her performance was the issue," Mayor Gerald Joubert said, adding that Edwards was insubordinate and disrespectful and couldn't get along with city staff. "We did not see any improvement over time."Unfortunately, we didn't have a choice. We're moving forward."The vote to fire Edwards was 6-1. She declined to comment.In late 2010, Edwards filed a sexual-harassment complaint against Councilman Damian Dalcour but later dropped it. She declined to say why she filed the complaint and why she withdrew it.Councilwoman Brigette Mathis said she cast the only no vote because she has served on the council only since July and needed more information."I want to be fair in situations like this," Mathis said.In other matters Tuesday, the council approved placing nine charter amendments on the May 12 ballot. Several propositions call for changes in the handling of recall procedures.One amendment calls for changing the length of time that a recalled council member must wait before seeking re-election from six months to two years."We wanted to put some teeth into our charter. Citizens worked hard to get someone recalled. That person should pay a significant penalty for being recalled," Joubert said.Another proposed change would require council members to immediately forfeit their office if they fail to vote for a recall election once verified petitions are received.Joubert said the proposed charter change isn't "directly related" to Edwards. But he said that in 2010, Edwards verified petitions to recall then-Mayor James Gosey and Councilman Dulani Masimini. However, the council voted twice not to call the election.Elizabeth Campbell,817-390-7696Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
