By Melanie Creamer
The Portland Press Herald
WESTBROOK, Maine — The city’s Fire and Rescue Department needs stronger leadership and significant training in communication skills, says a consultant hired to address issues of gender bias and allegations of sexual harassment raised in a lawsuit by two female firefighters.
The consultant, the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, presented a training proposal Monday to city councilors.
The sessions, targeted for the command staff, would focus on improving communication within the department and developing strategies to resolve conflicts.
The consultant’s review and plan for improvements, which cost the city $20,000, was prompted when two firefighters sued the fire department, the mayor and the city administrator, claiming all failed to address their complaints of sexual harassment.
Kathy Rogers and Lisa Theberge, who have been on paid administrative leave for more than a year, filed the suit Oct. 21, alleging obscene sexual harassment and discriminatory behavior.
The complaint says several male firefighters, including lieutenants and captains, engaged in incidents ranging from masturbation and pornography at the station to a sexual affair and sex at a fire department gathering.
The City Council is expected to vote in January on whether to spend $20,000 to implement the consultant’s proposal.
Stephen Wessler, executive director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, and Kristina Gould, Westbrook’s director of human resources, would lead the training.
Besides the supervisory training for Fire Chief Daniel Brock, Deputy Chief Thaddeus J. Soltys, and the department’s captains and lieutenants, ''I’ll be doing a lot of coaching separately,’' Gould said. ''We want to give them all the tools they can have.’'
The training would also include a plan for reintegrating Rogers and Theberge back into the department, if they decide to return to work.
Last year, the city disciplined seven firefighters for their behavior toward the two women. Brock became chief on Jan. 6, replacing Gary Littlefield, who was put on leave in October 2008, a month before his retirement.
''We want to try and help create a more positive environment going forward,’' Gould said.
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