Highway Super Hit With Discrimination Charges

East Hampton Town Highway Superintendent Scott King has found himself in hot water again as new discrimination charges have surfaced.

Two highway workers have filed charges with the New York State Division of Human Rights against King, who is seeking reelection on the Democratic party line in November.

Similar charges have been lodged against King before. In March 2010, three employees complained to the town workers’ union of verbal abuse and at least one occasion of physical violence. Two of those workers filed police reports, but did not press charges.

Now charges have been alleged in violation of the New York State Human Rights Law.

Latisha Theodore-Greene, deputy commissioner of personal affairs at the state department, confirmed on Monday there was one complaint filed recently. However, Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson said there were in fact two complaints served.

Irsan Bonilla, who wrote that he is Spanish, and Wallace Trotman, who wrote that he is African-American, said King denied them training, denied them a promotion or a raise, and gave them different or worse job duties than other workers. Trotman also claims he was given a disciplinary notice or a negative performance evaluation.

Bonilla wrote of a situation when he was plowing snow on Squaw Road when his plow slid into another plow. When King arrived on scene he reportedly called cursed and yelled at the two drivers. On at least two other occasions, Bonilla claims King called him and another worker a racial slur.

The most recent date of the alleged discrimination was June 3.

Trotman claims he was witness to Bonilla's allegations of the use of racial slurs. He also said that he was accused of not doing his work as a street-sweeper and put on lesser job assignments, like collecting trash or running the woodchipper. He said the most recent date of discrimination took place on March 25.

"The charges are not reflective of equal opportunity practice if true," Wilkinson said.

Theodore-Greene said her department would not provide the details, as they were being investigated for probable cause. King would be entitled to a hearing.

The Town of East Hampton was listed as the respondent on the claims.

"I'm not a liberty to discuss the details of these cases," King said by phone. "It is my understanding that they will be investigated."

King will remain in his position during the investigation, according to Wilkinson. "We have to be responsive to the outside agency's formal investigation," he said, adding there are administrative procedures in place. "You have to advise against retaliation. Those who are making the complaint are protected."

This is the second set of complaints against the town involving King in the past month. Last month, the Civil Service Employees Association filed a grievance against King for hiring two temporary nonunion workers.

Heith Liebman, the president of the town workers' union, declined to comment on the discrimination charges.

Sergio Diaz, a regional labor relations specialist representing the East Hampton C.S.E.A., did not immediately return a call for comment.

Town Attorney John Jilnicki also did not return a call for comment.

This article will be updated when more information becomes available.