The HR director, Kathleen Waterbury, had formally accused city manager, Richard Kirby, former acting city manager, Paul Lemont, and fire chief Oscar Elmasian, of sexual harassment and discrimination and filed a compliant with the state’s Commission of Human Rights.

After complaining to Kirby, Waterbury alleged that he dismissed her concerns, threatened that he would fire her and then actually dismissed her in March. The judge ruled there was nothing that warranted Waterbury’s firing. The judge also overturned the firing, but Kirby refused to bring Waterbury back,12 WPRI reports.

The City Council then took action passing a resolution to suspend Kirby with pay, while the mayor called for him to be fired.