Fillmore City Manager Quits Amid Scandal

Fillmore City Manager Stanley D. Greene, accused of sexually harassing three female co-workers, resigned Friday after the city agreed to pay him $95,000 to void his 2 1/2-year contract.

The agreement, approved by a 3-2 vote Thursday night, derailed plans for a public hearing Monday before an administrative law judge who was to issue an advisory opinion to the city.

“They won,” said Greene, 52, who described himself as the victim of “a conspiracy.”

“They got just what they wanted, which was to get me out of here.”

Greene denied harassing any of the employees, who had complained of verbal advances and “inappropriate touching” of their backs, necks and shoulders. He said he agreed to resign because the controversy had destroyed his effectiveness.

The women--City Clerk Noreen Withers, accounts clerk Barbara Adams and planning secretary Linda Nash--were unavailable for comment.

The settlement gives Greene about $13,000 less than he would have received had he stayed for the duration of his contract.

Greene was hired last March as interim city manager of the Ventura County community. The Fillmore City Council asked him to sign on for the permanent position in early June, without interviewing 73 applicants.

The women filed their sexual-harassment complaints with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in July. In addition, Nash and Adams filed complaints with their union, Operating Engineers Local 501.