The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission yesterday moved to fire the director of its minority business office, accusing her of insubordination and breach of duty, according to the notification letter.
Shaaron W. Phillips, who has headed the office since 2000, said the allegations were untrue. She has until Feb. 7 to request a hearing to appeal yesterday's action, a step she said she will take. The notification said she would be placed on leave without pay, effective today.
Shaaron W. Phillips, shown in November, headed the WSSC minority business office. She was accused of insubordination and breach of duty.
(Katherine Frey -- The Washington Post)
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"I am as baffled as anyone could be," she said in a brief telephone interview. "It was a shock. A complete shock."
Phillips was informed in writing that the agency was recommending her "release from employment" according to a memo to her from her supervisor that cited "serious violations of WSSC policy" and its code of ethics.
The action comes as Maryland lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at overhauling WSSC, the region's largest water and sewer utility. The agency, which serves 1.6 million customers in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, has been roiled by controversy in the past year. Three of its commissioners were forced to resign, and the general manager and his deputy were bought out of their contracts after commissioners tried to oust them in secret.
Word of yesterday's action reached lawmakers as they convened to discuss how to improve management of the agency. Several delegates from Prince George's County said they were outraged and puzzled by the decision.
"I'm shocked and appalled," said Del. Michael L. Vaughn (D). "I really don't see how this action would remedy anything."
For the past few years, Phillips has emerged as a key figure in a behind-the-scenes factional struggle over the way the utility awards about $100 million in contracts each year. As the head of the minority business office, Phillips pushed to improve access for minority contractors, and has worked closely with Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and a loose-knit group of current and former WSSC commissioners, politicians, staff and contractors.
Phillips was repeatedly at odds with former general manager John R. Griffin as well as several of his top appointees. Griffin said in interviews that he supported the mission of her office but that she too often pursued her goals in a divisive manner.
A prime example cited in yesterday's memo from her supervisor, Monica Johnson, involved Phillips's effort to lobby for legislation that would enhance her own standing and salary. According to Johnson, Phillips helped Vaughn and Sen. Nathaniel Exum (D-Prince George's) draft the bill, which is pending in Annapolis.
In a two-page memo to Phillips, Johnson wrote that the agency's code of ethics prohibits employees from participating in any WSSC matter in which the employee has a personal stake, and also bars staff from intentionally using the prestige of office for private gain and attempting to influence a state official in the conduct of their duties for private gain.
A spokesman for the utility said he could not comment because it was a personnel matter.
Phillips was a subject of a Washington Post article on Sunday that described her role in attempting to increase minority contracting at the agency, and her disputes with Griffin and other top managers.
Phillips also was one of seven employees who has sued WSSC alleging that she was the victim of racial discrimination. One of her attorneys in that case, Alan Rifkin, said yesterday that he would add the proposed dismissal to the list of complaints against the agency.
He said Phillips's decision to discuss legislation with Exum and Vaughn was not a reason for her to be fired.
"Ms. Phillips was fired for exercising her constitutionally protected rights," Rifkin said.
Johnson wrote that Phillips was undermining attempts by WSSC's legislative affairs office to derail the bill.
"In effect, you were advocating for the upgrade of your position by state statute -- a situation in which you clearly had a personal interest," Johnson wrote. "This is part of a pattern of you circumventing my authority, disregarding established commission procedures and practices, and a failure to communicate."
