Fish and Game Commissioner Wayne Vetter has been suspended for six months without pay. New Hampshire officials removed Vetter for alleged acts of sexual harassment in the workplace. Despite this, officials are not completely satisfied with the way the case was handled. And critics say the punishment doesn?t go far enough. NHPR's David Darman has more.
State officials say Vetter?s suspension is severe punishment. But Andru Volinsky, Vetter?s attorney, says the penalty is too great for his client?s admitted behavior at Fish and Game.
08 111 he?s being punished for occasionally telling an off color joke, for using some profanity in the office, and one very, very unfortunate remark that he made in just over two years ago. 08 124
Vetter has been accused of doing far more. He allegedly asked a woman to bare her breasts. And he allegedly propositioned another woman several times.
Kris Moody, president of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Organization for Women, says Vetter should not be welcomed back to work in six months. Instead, Moody says, he should have been fired.
20 Nh now does not think that this is a good decision. We believe that sexual harassment is a serious business. And it shouldn?t be tolerated without serious consequences. 20 09
State officials gave up their option to fire Vetter when he accepted the six-month suspension. He also gave up half his 84,000 salary. And he agreed to sensitivity training for sexual harassment. Executive Councilor Peter Spaulding of Hopkinton says state officials could not remove Vetter. Spaulding says that was because the attorney general?s staff did not follow prudent investigating procedures in the case.
04 104 they did not record any of the conversations that they had with the witnesses. Ah, there was a concern that there was very conflicting testimony between the witnesses, and we just felt that, that the severest penalty, and this was not just the council, but the governor as well, was the disciplinary procedures that we brought about. 04 124
The attorney for the women who accused Vetter is also critical of the Attorney General?s office. Chuck Douglas says the women are angry and hurt, because their names have appeared in the newspapers. The A-G?s office had promised them that their identities would remain secret.
16 138 they have said to all of the witnesses, everything you say will be kept in confidence. When they walked in the room, the governor would say, you can?t disclose anything that is said here today, I want to remind you of strict confidentiality. That just went out the window. 16 157
Vetter?s accusers may turn their anger into a lawsuit against him. But unless that lawsuit stops him, Vetter is scheduled to return to work in May. In the meantime, during his suspension, Vetter can collect his 62,000 dollar a year pension.
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