Windsor Heights Councilwoman Threase Harms "almost single-handedly" created a hostile work environment at city hall, according to a lawsuit filed by the city's former administrator.

Elizabeth Ann Hansen claims she was fired after supporting employees who made harassment complaints against Harms and resisting the city council's efforts to bypass Iowa's open meetings laws.

"Since being elected to the Windsor Heights council, (Threase Harms) has spent substantial personal capitol making city employees' lives more difficult by attempting to undermine them and berating and bullying them at council meetings," the lawsuit says.

Hansen filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Thursday in Polk County District Court against the city and council members Harms, Zac Bales-Henry, Mike Jones, Michael Loffredo and Joseph Jones.

It seeks back pay, damages for emotional distress and asks the court to assess fines against each council member for violating open meetings laws.

According to the lawsuit, Harms met with Hansen after she was hired and told the city administrator that she would "make people look foolish, and make people quit."

The councilwoman told Hansen she did not like the city's deputy city clerk, who she referred to as a "country bumpkin." She said she "hated her sneeze" and didn't like her speaking at meetings, it says.

Two employees filed hostile environment complaints that were investigated by outside experts, according to the lawsuit. Hansen's lawsuit says her contract was not renewed in retaliation for supporting the complaints.

"I've been told by the mayor and some council members that I was the best city administrator the city has had," Hansen said in a statement to the Register. "But for the efforts of one hostile person on the city council (Threase Harms), I would have been reappointed. I am standing up for myself and others in an effort to discourage this kind of conduct."

Harms, who is running for reelection in November, did not respond to a request for comment Monday morning, saying she wanted to consult with her attorney before answering a reporter's questions.

Windsor Heights city attorney Matt Brick did not respond to a phone call requesting comment.

In addition to the claims of retaliation and a hostile workplace, Hansen's lawsuit says Windsor Heights officials violated open meetings laws by using personal emails, phone calls and text messages to conduct city business behind closed doors. One council member told Hansen that Harms and several other council members had a group text chat, it says.

In addition, the lawsuit claims council members added items to agendas without proper public notice and improperly used closed sessions to discuss city business.

Hansen challenged the city council's open records violations, the lawsuit says. She also requested the examination of council members' personal emails for violations of Iowa law, but the city refused to provide the information, saying it has "no control over the personal accounts of council members."

According to the lawsuit, a Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce representative told Hansen last year that Harms, Loffredo and Bales-Henry were trying to get rid of her.

In April, the city council voted unanimously not to extend Hansen's contract. Councilman Joseph Jones was absent from that meeting.

Hansen's performance evaluation that past year had been mostly positive, the lawsuit says, except for her evaluation by Harms, which the lawsuit says is an "example of bias and unfairness."

Prior to her hiring in August 2016, Windsor Heights had gone through six city administrators in six years, according to the lawsuit. The city could not confirm that claim.

Ian Richardson covers Ankeny and Altoona for the Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.

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