Agency faces claim of sexual harassment

Alternatives to Incarceration, county blamed in complaint

By Steven Cook
Gazette Reporter

December 12, 2001
AMSTERDAM - An Amsterdam agency whose finances are under investigation by the state now faces a new problem _ a claim of sexual harassment by a former employee, officials said.

Stacey Brooker, formerly of Amsterdam, has filed with the state Division of Human Rights a notice of claim that is expected to be forwarded to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Brooker claims she was sexually harassed by her former supervisor at Alternatives to Incarceration of Montgomery County, and she is naming the agency and the county as responsible, according to Brooker's lawyer, Karen Kimball, of Wynantskill.

No individual is named as a defendant in the claim, Kimball said. She declined to name the individual who she claims harassed her.

"There was touching involved, as well as verbal harassment," Kimball said in describing her client's allegations. She declined to be more specific. "The workplace was intolerable."

Brooker worked for ATI from June 2000 to September 2001, Kimball said.

Alternatives to Incarceration is under investigation by the Office of the State Inspector General for possible fraud, according to a subpoena sent to the Montgomery County administrator's office last month.

It was unclear on Tuesday whether any relationship exists between Brooker's claim and the state investigation.

The state subpoena asked for 10 different kinds of documents ranging from descriptions and locations of community service sites to financial records. Records sought date back to Jan. 1, 1999, and have been provided, officials said.

ATI administers a program for low-level criminal offenders as they perform court-ordered sentences of community service. The agency also supervises pretrial release of prisoners.

ATI Executive Director Robert "Pete" Phelps could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Montgomery County would most likely be removed from any suit involving ATI, something required by the county's contract with the agency, County Administrator Scott Schrader said last week.

The agency has a budget of $144,000 for 2001, $30,000 of that from the state and the remainder from the county.

ATI records have been subpoenaed, and at least one Amsterdam resident has been interviewed by state investigators.

Two other Amsterdam agencies with dealings with ATI said last week they have also been questioned by investigators.

Paul Parillo, executive director of the United Way of Montgomery County, said he was interviewed by state investigators two weeks ago about his agency's interaction with ATI.

The United Way contributed $10,000 to ATI for use in purchasing a truck. The United Way has also contributed money for small tools for workers, Parillo said.

"They wanted to know if, in fact, ATI was funded by the United Way, how much we gave them and whether or not they filed the proper paperwork," Parillo said. "I answered, `Yes, yes and yes.' "

Horace J. Inman Senior Citizens Center Executive Director David Wilson said he was interviewed by investigators last month.

The nonprofit center often uses ATI workers to help clean, set up tables and do lawn work.

"They just wanted some information on how ATI workers were used here," Wilson said. He declined to comment further.

Posted February 15, 2002