Panel urges city to fire chief

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A city panel recommended Tuesday that officials fire Bonnie Bleskachek, the nation's first openly lesbian big-city fire chief, in the wake of firefighter lawsuits accusing her of harassment and discrimination.
Bleskachek had earlier agreed to step down. But the city's executive council unanimously rejected a negotiated deal after a closed-door meeting. Mayor R.T. Rybak had announced the agreement in a letter to the city's executive council in which he wrote that he no longer had confidence in Bleskachek as chief. Neither Rybak nor city council members would immediately explain why the deal was blocked.
Bleskachek, 43, was hailed as a trailblazer when she was promoted to the top job two years ago, but her tenure has been troubled.
Three female firefighters have sued, alleging various acts of discrimination and sexual harassment. Two of the lawsuits were settled, but this month a male firefighter brought another lawsuit alleging he was denied advancement because he is male and not gay.
A city investigation is still under way. This summer, a separate investigation by the city's Department of Civil Rights into a 2003 complaint by a male firefighter -- brought when Bleskachek was a battalion chief -- found it "likely" that the department gave preferential treatment to lesbians or those who socialized with them.
Bleskachek was ill with the flu Tuesday and unavailable to comment on the severance agreement.
The city has spent more than 410,000 on the investigation, legal settlements and compensation of Bleskachek during her paid leave, which began March 22.
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