WILTON, CT: Friday, July 21, 2023, 8:00 PM — A Town of Wilton the employee has filed a complaint with the CT Human Rights and Opportunities Commission (CHRO), claiming that a member of the Board of Selectors discriminated and harassed her because of her gender (female) and age.
In the complaint, filed at the state CHRO office in Bridgeport, Sarah Heath, Wilton Director of Social Services alleged that Selection Ross Tartell she was discriminated against and harassed because of her age and because she was a woman.
Heath filed the complaint with the CHRO office June 16, 2023. It was filed against the City of Wilton as both a CHRO case and a case Equal Employment and Opportunities Commission case (EEOC). He did not file directly against Tartell.
Jamie Rubin, CHRO Southwest Regional Directorreported the complaint to the Wilton Town Clerk’s office in a letter dated July 11 and received on July 12, 2023.
Tartell, who has been a member of the Wilton Board of Selectmen since 2019, reached out to Good morning Wilton Friday afternoon, July 21, to provide a copy of the complaint documents. Later that day, he emailed a written comment about what Heath has alleged.
Details of the complaint
Heath filed the complaint through a Affidavit of Illegal Discriminatory Practices.
On the form he filled out, Heath checked “discriminated against…” and “harassed,” which is different from “sexually harassed,” an option he did not check.
The form shows that Heath believed she was discriminated against on two protected class statuses: “age” and “sex: female.”
In the complaint, Heath alleges that she was discriminated against and harassed at an event March 3, 2023. the event, “Let’s talk about mental health” presented as a community-wide conversation about mental health in Wilton. It was organized by the Wilton Mental Health Task Force, Wilton Public Schools and the Wilton Youth Counciland held at Wilton/Riverbrook Regional YMCA.
That day, Heath sat on a panel with representatives from several Wilton organizations. In the complaint, Heath claimed that just before the panel discussion began, Tartell approached her to speak with her.
“Tartell began to describe out loud the areas he believed needed attention in the Department of Social Services. I believe he was doing this to humiliate me and in fact it caused me both anxiety and embarrassment,” Heath alleged in the complaint.
Tartell was an audience member, not a panelist.
According to Heath’s complaint, she “tried to leave quickly after the panel ended,” but Tartell tried to talk to her again.
“Tartell started calling me names and saying my name out loud. I felt compelled to turn around and talk to him, or rather make him talk to me. He made some unhelpful comments and also said he wanted to ‘push me and push Lynn.'[e Vanderslice]’— who is the first woman selected and technically surpasses her position. This interaction made me feel uncomfortable,” Heath said in the complaint.
The complaint specifies that Heath “spoke with Vanderslice” about the interaction and that Vanderslice spoke with Wilton’s attorney. Ira Bloom. Heath alleged that “upon information and belief,” Bloom allegedly told Tartell not to talk to Heath.
Heath said he has had no contact with Tartell since then “outside of one email.”
“Due to [being] woman”
In the affidavit, Heath alleged that Tartell’s actions were based on the fact that she is a woman.
“On information and belief, Tartell would never have spoken to and dealt with a male department head in this manner,” Heath said.
“I allege that the defendant’s actions were due to my protected class sex basis (Female), and not because of my work history, ethics, capabilities, or any valid business reason,” she added.
Although Heath’s complaint listed “age” as a protected class in which Tartell allegedly discriminated against her, there is no specific description or particular explanation that Heath included in the affidavit to explain this allegation.
The documents state that Heath was 52 years old; Good morning Wilton has asked for Tartell’s age in an email and will update the article accordingly.
The full complaint is at the end of the article.
comments
Tartell made a statement Good morning Wilton about Heath’s complaint.
Selection Ross Tartell Credit: stock photo
“My fellow residents of the town of Wilton,
“I am making this announcement on my own behalf and not on behalf of the Town of Wilton.
“Wilton Director of Social Services Sarah Heath recently filed a discrimination complaint against the City of Wilton with the State of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
“I have decided to make a public statement about the complaint, as it directly involves me as a selectman. The incident cited occurred during the March 3 program, “Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Community Conversation,” which took an in-depth review of the mental health crises facing our city and shared potential actions to address these life-threatening issues. A the recording of the session is posted on the Wilton Youth Council website. I invite you to review the recording.
“I assure each and every one of you that my actions, especially in my capacity on the Board of Selectmen, are always driven by a sincere dedication to what I believe to be the best interest of our community. Every decision I make is with the intent of fostering strong and professional working relationships for the betterment of our town. In my opinion, our town’s Social Services function works best when we talk about things collaboratively and with a shared goal: the support of all residents who need support.
“I am confident that the legal process will ensure a swift and fair resolution.
“Thanks.”
Good morning Wilton reached out to Heath, who declined to comment.
GMW emailed First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice to comment on the complaint and to verify the details Heath provided in her complaint regarding Vanderslice’s actions following the March 3, 2023 event.
He responded to all questions raised with a statement: “The city does not comment on ongoing legal matters.”
GMW CT CHRO Southwest Region office has been contacted but has not heard back.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
