Gouverneur settles Whitton age discrimination case [Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.]

March 23--GOUVERNEUR -- The village Board of Trustees approved a $75,000 settlement Thursday in satisfaction of a claim filed by Police Chief David C. Whitton alleging age discrimination.

The settlement with Mr. Whitton was worked out by the village's insurer through its attorney. The payment is not to be construed as an admission of liability, which the village denies.

Mr. Whitton filed the lawsuit in 2010 alleging the village reduced his position and salary to force him to retire.

The village had made his job part-time the previous year and reduced his salary when it cut the department's budget to stem rising property taxes.

Mr. Whitton, who will turn 64 in a few days, has been chief since 1987 and a part of the department for more than 40 years.

Although his retirement is not part of the settlement, Mr. Whitton intends to leave the job soon.

"I just need to decide when," he said. "I don't think it's going to be a long period of time."

Mr. Whitton declined comment on the settlement, saying he wanted to go over the documents with his attorney first.

After a 25-minute executive session, the village board voted unanimously to approve the settlement.

"Some of us felt it was time to move on," Trustee Ronald P. McDougall said.

Roger A. LaPierre, the only member of the board who was in office when Mr. Whitton's job was cut to part-time, was out of town and not at the meeting.

While board members, who are working on a budget for the coming year, have not made a commitment to hire more officers, they want to increase coverage.

"We're going to do everything in our power to see the public receive 24/7 coverage," Trustee Charles W. Newvine said.

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