Employee files age discrimination claim - animal control director claims he was denied raise because of age

A dispute over a wage increase had led Wilson County's animal control officer to accuse the county of age discrimination.
In March, director of animal control Bill Arnold filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The 66-year-old Arnold wrote in his complaint to the federal agency that during the 2005-2006 budget process, animal control employees were set to receive a 5-percent raise.
"In October, the board decided to deny the five-percent wage increase to the [sic] me, the Director of Animal Control," Arnold wrote in his complaint. "When I asked way, I was given no response. All other Animal Control employees were give their five-percent raise."
Arnold claimed he was denied the raise because of his age, and the county's actions violated the Age Discrimination Act of 1967.
Calls to Arnold's home went unreturned.
The county denies any discrimination took place.
"The county's position is there has been no age discrimination or any discrimination of any sort," County Attorney Mike Jennings said.
In July, Arnold met with County Finance Director Ron Gilbert and Jennings along with a mediator from the EEOC to discuss a possible settlement, Jennings said.
According to the minutes from the Aug. 11 meeting of the Urban Type Public Facilities board meeting, a tentative proposal had been reached.
The board voted to approve a "counter proposal to Superintendent Arnold," according to the minutes.
But Jennings said that proposal has been rejected by Arnold.
Jennings said he could not disclose the details of the mediation for the settlement offer due to the mediation rules.
The county is now waiting for word from the EEOC on potential further mediation, Jennings said.
Staff writer Nick Fowler can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 15 or by e-mail at nick.fowler@lebanondemocrat.com.