An employee with the Town of Caledonia’s water and sewer department has filed a grievance against Water Superintendent Benny Coleman, alleging blackmail, ethics violations, discrimination and a violation of his constitutional rights.
Water technician Trey Robertson passed his Class B water certification test last spring, but he says Coleman refuses to sign his certificate, thereby preventing him from receiving a mandatory $1 per hour pay raise.
The issue has been the source of ongoing dissension during the past year, with the board of aldermen meeting in several closed executive sessions to discuss the matter.
Further complicating issues, Robertson’s parents, Pam and Jim Robertson, have accused Coleman and the water department of illegally crossing their property line without an easement last July, tearing down fences, making deep trenches and causing damages of more than $10,000.
The board has received an estimate of $10,557 for repairs, which Caledonia Mayor George Gerhart said should be paid by the water department. During a March board meeting, however, Alderman Brenda Willis questioned that, saying she didn’t see why the water department couldn’t make the repairs for less money.
The Robertsons said they would prefer someone else fix the damage, and the board agreed to get a second estimate.
In his grievance letter, Trey Robertson said he believes Coleman is now delaying approving his certification in retaliation for his parents’ issue.
“On May 4, I asked Benny about signing my certification,” Robertson wrote. “His response was, ‘Well, buddy, we’re going to wait and see what happens with your parents’ deal first.'”
He wrote that when he told Coleman his parents had nothing to do with his situation, Coleman replied: “We’re just going to wait and see what happens with their deal first and then we’ll discuss signing your certification.”
Robertson said he felt Coleman’s statements were “professionally and ethically wrong” and violated his constitutional rights as an employee.
“That is not only discrimination but is also blackmail,” Robertson wrote. “Not very professional acting of a superintendent of which you have appointed to run this water system in a business professional manner.”
Today, Coleman said Robertson’s claims are a personnel issue and would not confirm or deny the statements Robertson has attributed to him.
“When an employee, especially a disgruntled employee, when you’re talking with people, they take out of context what they want to hear,” Coleman said. “That’s part of your discussion with them, and that should be dealt with through the board.”
The board took no action on the matter when presented with the letter Tuesday night. Willis questioned why Gerhart gave the letter to them on June 5 when the letter is dated May 4 and is marked as received by Gerhart May 9.
“I did exactly what the man wanted me to do, which was not turn it in until the monthly meeting,” Gerhart said. “I’m waiting on Benny for a reply.”
He said Coleman should sign the certificate and the board should have discussed it at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“We insisted he go take this test, and he passed it, and I think we’re failing in our duty and Benny’s duty not to sign off on it,” Gerhart said. “The kid (earned) the extra money.”
Coleman said the town paid for Robertson to take the test three times, but neither he nor Gerhart could recall how much the test cost.
The certification test is administered through the Mississippi Water and Sewer Operators Association, which is under the umbrella of the Mississippi Department of Health.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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