Fillmore to Probe Reports of Sexual Harassment

The Fillmore City Council has directed its attorneys to investigate allegations that the newly appointed city manager has sexually harassed female City Hall employees.

Mayor Gary Creagle confirmed Tuesday that the council asked the Los Angeles law firm of Leibert, Cassidy & Frierson, which is on retainer to the city, to investigate City Manager Stanley D. Greene’s alleged misconduct. But Creagle cautioned that the action was a procedural matter required by city and state regulations when such complaints arise.

“In other words, there isn’t any substance to any of this,” he said. “It’s just an inquiry. . . . I don’t want to impugn either party in the investigation.”

A report from the attorneys is due within two weeks, he said.

Greene declined to comment, but said he would cooperate with investigators.

Earlier this month, Greene, 52, accepted the city manager’s job after filling in on a temporary basis when James F. Rupp left the post in March. Council members offered the job to Greene, who had not applied for it, without looking at any of the 70 candidates vying for the position.

Creagle declined to elaborate on the complaints, which the council first learned about last week. However, the term “sexual harassment” in the workplace could apply to anything ranging from “leering” at an employee to outright sexual assault, according to Paul Ostroff, a lawyer with the Leibert firm.

Fillmore City Clerk Noreen Withers said four employees are planning to file complaints against Greene, both with the state Fair Employment and Housing Department and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She would not identify them.

However, only two employees have lodged complaints with Local 501 of the Operating Engineers, the union representing Fillmore city workers, according to union agent Ron Coleman.

Coleman said he will file grievances with the City Council on behalf of the two women, whom he declined to identify.

Greene served two years as assistant city manager of Oxnard before starting his own management consulting firm. He also has served as an interim administrator for the cities of Saugus and Simi Valley.