Head Of PPA Suspended After Another Accusation Of Sexual Harassment Comes To Light
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The chairman of the Philadelphia Parking Authority Board has suspended executive director Vince Fenerty after a second charge of sexual harassment came to light.
The action came just hours after the chairman defended keeping Fenerty on.
Chairman Joe Ashdale has issued a statement saying he will recommend to the full board at its meeting Thursday, that Fenerty be fired after it was brought to his attention that Fenerty had been accused of sexual harassment in 2006.
"Earlier today, I made a statement regarding the recent disclosure of a sexual harassment claim made against Executive Director Vince Fenerty. After that meeting, it was brought to our attention that a prior claim from 2006 was made alleging inappropriate conduct with another employee. That complaint was not filed with our human resources department. It should have been part of the information used in making the decision to permit Mr. Fenerty to remain in his position. In light of this information, Mr. Fenerty is suspended immediately and I will recommend to the Board on Thursday that he be terminated."
Fenerty and the Board have been under fire since a 2015 sexual harassment complaint came to light.
The Board investigated that one and concluded Fenerty did harass a senior staff member, but allowed him to keep his $230,000 a year job.
A decision Ashdale defended at a Tuesday morning meeting.
"We were confident that we reached the correct decision 15 months ago and I remain just as certain today."
Ashdale's statement says the 2006 case did not go through the Authority's personnel department, thus the Board was unaware of it and only learned of it after the meeting.
JUST IN - Parking Auth. boss implicated in 2nd harassment claim; @AlTaubenberger's statement on intent to fire Vince Fenerty @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/fQLCeIbksE
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) September 27, 2016
