Investigation finds Skagit PUD did not retaliate against former CFO

July 28--MOUNT VERNON -- An independent report done for the Skagit Public Utility District has found that management did not retaliate against former Chief Financial Officer Vanessa Dales after she alleged harassment by former General Manager Bob Powell.

Dales went on paid administrative leave in March while her claims were investigated and she was terminated Friday, within weeks of the completion of the report.

The 16-page report, which was conducted by an attorney hired by the PUD's insurance company, was obtained by the Skagit Valley Herald through a public records request.

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Dales declined to comment on the report.

The report determines the district did not violate its retaliation policy, and that after Dales made her harassment complaint, which wasn't written down and formally submitted, there were no adverse employment actions against her.

Dales alleged that, after a discussion with Human Resources Manager Kathy White in May or June of 2015 about Powell inappropriately touching her hair, White and Powell retaliated against her.

According to the report, Dales said she was excluded from meetings and important decisions because of her complaint.

The report found that was not the case. In fact, Dales received a 5 percent merit salary raise from Powell after making the complaint, according to the report.

"The facts did not establish a causal connection between (Dales' complaint) and any subsequent adverse employment action," according to the report.

The report states that in March 2016, interim General Manager George Sidhu and White met with Dales to discuss issues, including insubordination, that may have resulted in disciplinary action.

Following that meeting, Dales submitted a list of formal complaints alleging retaliation for the harassment complaint, which prompted the investigation.

-- Reporter Brandon Stone: bstone@skagitpublishing.com, 360-416-2112, Twitter: @Brandon_SVH

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