CARY -- A member ofCary's zoning staff is suing the town and the planning department's second-in-command, claiming employee mistreatment.
Brent Reck, zoning compliance supervisor, said in a complaint filed Tuesday that Associate Planning Director Ricky Barker, one of Reck's supervisors, created an abusive work environment that caused Reck "severe emotional distress."
The complaint contends that Barker has had a "long, documented history of abusive conduct toward employees," including setting "unattainable deadlines" and making "unreasonable demands."
According to the complaint, Reck took his concerns to town administrators this winter but a filed grievance was dismissed.
Barker did not immediately return calls for comment. The town of Cary issued a written statement:
"At the Town of Cary, employees are our most valuable resource, and we are proud of our long history of creating an excellent organizational culture and work environment that fosters their success. As such, we are saddened and disappointed by these allegations. We will offer a clear and vigorous defense to the claims and welcome the Court's review of the matter."
Reck has been an employee of the town since 2002. In 2007, he became zoning compliance supervisor. That same year, he was a finalist for the Town of Cary Employee of the Year. He was also named N.C. Zoning Officer of the Year for 2008 by the N.C. Association of Zoning Officers.
