AUGUSTA, Maine — A state board has unanimously ruled in favor of a West Gardiner firefighter who said selectmen refused to appoint her as chief because of her gender.
The Maine Human Rights Commission also found Monday that Vicki Dill was subjected to retaliation because she was demoted after expressing her frustration to a newspaper.
Commission findings are not law, but may become grounds for lawsuits.
An attorney for the town told the Kennebec Journal the town is willing to try to resolve the dispute through a settlement. Dill’s lawyer said she and Dill would participate in conciliation efforts.
The 41-year-old Dill got the most votes in the West Gardiner Firemen’s Association election for chief in 2009, but was passed over in favor of the person who got the third most votes.
Oh well you know selectmen are volunteers so they can do whatever they want to do. Meritocracy in action.
She is qualified and has the support of her peers. SHE DESERVES TO BE CHIEF!!!
Lawyers jackpot.
The position of Fire Chief is not and never should be a popularity contest. In most small towns it is an appointed position with regard given to the desires of the fire department itself. Fire fighters must , first of all, trust the person who will be giving them orders which may endanger their lives.
There are so many other factors involved I will not even try to begin but the sex of the person is at the bottom of the list and in most instances is not on the list at all. Perhaps Gardiner has not yet grown up.
I hope you meant to say that in ALL instances it is not on the list at all.
A settlement that’s gonna cost the Town, and it’s Insurance Carrier, is gonna be a nasty way to learn this. Public safety is not a popularity contest and you are dead on on this one Becky. Qualification and performance are what’s supposed to be what are the deciding factor’s, not who brought the cupcake’s to the Christmas party. West Gardiner is about to get that lesson driven home in a very real way. It’s also a lesson that a great many other Fire Dept’s need to learn as well. The person, not the gender, that know’s what they are doing is the one most qualifed. Short of having a baby, gender doesn’t mean squat. And there are a great many female Veteran’s out there who can attest to that fact. A machine doesn’t care what sex the operator is.
Normally the one with the most votes is the most trusted. Do you vote for the people you least trust?
Let’s put it this way it should not be on any list at all your refference to the bottom of this list is out of line.
Stupid is as stupid does.
I hope the town has an excellent insurance policy because they’re going to need it for this settlement!
Didn’t she realize she was a token women on the department? To be seen and not heard.. The good old boys network is going to settle this with other peoples money so they don’t care.
Don’t settle this without getting the Fire Chiefs job along with 10’s of millons of dollars..
Chief should be who is most qualified not who got the most votes, just like when that clown Obama was elected and this makes the West Gardner fire department look like fools where popularity takes a back seat to public safety.
actually like when that clown bush got elected, right?
I like to read between the lines of comments. are you saying that it is better to put your facebook buddy in a job then the one voted most confidence?
Only a fool would make this about Obama.
No because that is what that fool has made this country. Everyone for themselves and against each other. And until you liberals can figure that out this country will continue to spiral downhill until we have nothing left!
You’re very confused and have low information.
I hope she settles for nothing less than the position and financial compensation for the way she was treated!