Kiski Township supervisor/former treasurer files discrimination complaint against township

A Kiski Township supervisor, who is the former township treasurer, has filed a complaint accusing the township of gender discrimination.

Sherry Tamski filed the gender discrimination complaint against the township with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Tamski was fired from her treasurer job earlier this year when she began her term as a township supervisor after winning a six-year seat in the Nov. 2 general election.

The supervisors voted not to keep her on as treasurer because, according to Tamski’s account, supervisors told her that she couldn’t serve as treasurer and supervisor. Those supervisors and township officials declined to comment on the matter at the time.

According to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, however, it is legal for a supervisor of a Second Class Township to be employed by the same township.

Tamski chose to stay on as a supervisor.

In her EEOC complaint filed June 25 and obtained by the Tribune-Review, Tamski said she was discriminated against because of her gender and was paid less than township Secretary Patrick Bono. He then was promoted to secretary/treasurer after Tamski was fired.

“I don’t think I was treated fairly,” Tamski said Wednesday.

Tamski started working in the township as a part-time financial assistant in May 2019 and was promoted to full-time interim secretary/treasurer when Township Manager Donna Piper left in January 2020.

After Piper resigned, Tamski’s complaint stated, township Supervisors Chairman Michael Bash said several times that “he wanted a man in the office.”

Bash did not respond to calls for comment.

Kiski Township solicitor Tim Miller said he had no comment on Tamski‘s complaint. He also represents the supervisors, excluding Tamski in this matter, and said they have no comment because of active litigation.

When Bono was hired in August 2020, Tamski’s duties were broken into two positions: Bono became full-time secretary, and Tamski was the full-time treasurer.

“We were told that our positions would be equal, we would cross-train each other, and no one would be the other person’s boss or superior,” Tamski said in her complaint.

“However, even though I had 15 months more seniority than Mr. Bono, they hired him at $4.06 an hour more than me,” she said.

Bono was hired at a rate of $24.06 an hour in August 2020, Tamski said. Before Bono was hired, she was earning $16 an hour. After Bono was hired, supervisors increased Tamski’s pay to $20 an hour, a rate still less than Bono’s, Tamski said.

Tamski said in the complaint that she also lost out in joining the pension plan, “even though the prior secretary had been a part of it.”

She is seeking an unspecified amount of compensation and said she is working with an attorney. Tamski said she hopes to resolve the issue through mediation.

After receiving a complaint, the EEOC sends it to the employer and then decides on mediation or investigation of the claims. If the issue is unresolved through EEOC, Tamski could choose to take other legal action.

Bono said he cannot comment on matters involving litigation.

Earlier this month, Tamski voted against an almost 30% pay increase for Bono approved by other supervisors. He was earning $24.06 an hour and now earns $31.25 an hour, she said.

“I opposed the pay hike because I didn’t feel that anybody should get that large of a raise,” she said. “Also, supervisors didn’t require him to take accounting classes to perform the treasurer’s job.”

Related:

• Kiski Township supervisors fire treasurer who became newest supervisor
• Sherry Tamski becomes 2nd woman supervisor to serve in Kiski Township