By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

The city of Fayetteville has declined Main Street director Sherri Anderson's request for a $125,000 settlement of her sexual harassment grievance against former city manager Michael Bryant.

Bryant's recent resignation following a month-long city investigation of her complaint “fully resolves the issues,” said Mayor Kenneth Steele.

Steele read his memorandum to Anderson into the record at the City Council's regular business meeting Monday night. “His resignation effectively removes him from the city's work place and from a position where he could in any manner affect your employment status or environment,” Steele's memorandum states.

“Since this resignation fully resolves the issues which prompted your grievance (you complained of the conduct of no other city employee) and removes the need to reach the merits of your grievance's allegations, the city is concluding the process with this memorandum,” the statement continues.

“Your invocation of the city's grievance procedure in order to communicate your employment issue is appreciated and you are encouraged to use it in the future if it becomes necessary,” it concludes.

In a March 1 letter from her lawyer, Lee Parks, Anderson had offered to forego litigation against the city in exchange for the proposed settlement.

In January, Anderson filed a formal grievance against then city manager Michael Bryant, alleging that Bryant had sexually harassed her and created a hostile working environment.

A subsequent investigation by McDonough lawyer Greg Futch was cut short Feb. 17 when Bryant signed a separation agreement with the city, approved by City Council the night before. The city agreed to end its investigation, and Bryant agreed to resign and not to sue the city.

In a Feb. 25 letter, Parks states Anderson's intention to pursue a claim for money damages, and argues that the city should not have cut short its investigation. “It is incumbent upon the city to fully investigate these types of allegations and to reach a conclusion,“ he wrote.

Neither Parks nor Anderson has returned phone calls from The Citizen.