Settlement Offered to Daniels Stipulates Charges of Racism Dropped

The includes a stipulation that he drop his claim of racism filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 19.

“The settlement does call for a release of all claims. So yes, it is my understanding that Chief Daniels will withdraw his complaint,” fire commissioner Kevin Coughlin wrote in an email to Patch. “At this point the settlement is the best business decision we could make as we will not incur any additional costs.”

Coughlin added that the offer was made for nine months in fairness to Daniels, stating that his career in by IAFF Local 2950 announced on July 18.

According to the agreement, passed in a 4-1 vote by the district’s board of commissioners, with new commissioner Gerry Vucci the lone dissenter, Daniels' last day of employment with the district will be Nov. 9. Daniels will continue to draw his regular pay until that date.

“The general sentiment of the Board was that we need to move on with the Daniels' situation and maintain the respect, integrity and dignity of those involved,” board president Tim Osgood wrote in an email to Patch the night after the vote. “Additionally, it’s always best if you settle early in a dispute and outside of the courtroom.”

Daniels has been on administrative leave since . The former , claiming he believed he was going to be fired or pushed out of his position because he is African American.

In the statement, filed with the EEOC on Sept. 9 and received by the fire district on Sept. 19, Daniels states, “I am employed as fire chief. The last two chiefs were treated more favorable than I am being treated. The previous two chiefs were white. I am African American. I believe that the fire district is planning to end my contract, or to force me to quit, due to my race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.”