Belton mayor called city manager vulgar name, sought her firing as ‘revenge’: Lawsuit
Belton Mayor Norman Larkey, a political newcomer elected 17 months ago after serving five years as the city’s fire chief, is accused in a civil lawsuit of calling the former city manager and another female administrator a vulgar name as part of a broader pattern of workplace discrimination and harassment.
Former City Manager Alexa Barton, removed by the City Council in October, alleges she was terminated in an act of illegal retaliation and sex-based discrimination orchestrated by Larkey. She seeks damages from the city to compensate her for lost wages, damage to her career, and defamation among other things, according to her civil petition filed in Cass County Circuit Court on Sept. 7.
Larkey did not immediately respond to The Star’s request for comment. In an emailed statement, City Manager Joe Warren declined to comment on the allegations, saying the city does not discuss pending or current lawsuits.
The allegations concerning Larkey date back three years as the mayor was still working as Belton’s fire chief, a post he first took on in August 2014 after serving as a deputy chief for the Kansas City Fire Department.
Barton says disagreement between them began to take shape following a decision Larkey made in December 2018 while serving on the 911 Cass County Emergency Services Board, which concerned the consolidation of emergency dispatch centers.
The lawsuit says Larkey ended up on the receiving end of some criticism from government leaders in Belton and other Cass County cities. It alleges Larkey blamed Barton for the outcome and began voicing a desire to have her fired as a result.
Investigation at fire department
A few months later, near the end of Larkey’s tenure as fire chief, the city opened an investigation led by an outside attorney to review complaints that allegedly originated from within the Belton Fire Department. In May 2019, the investigator issued a memo concluding that Larkey had “engaged in illegal acts and/or acts of misconduct against Plaintiff and at least one other female employee, including sexually harassing and/or discriminatory conduct based on sex,” according to the civil lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that an assistant chief at the time directed others in fire department leadership to lie during the independent investigation “specifically in regard to calling the City Manager and Finance Director ‘c---s.’” Larkey is further accused of using the term “numerous times” to refer to Barton and at least one other city employee.
“Both before and after becoming Mayor, Larkey has openly expressed that women should not be in management or leadership,” the lawsuit alleges.
The one specific example listed in the lawsuit of the then-fire chief’s alleged use of the vulgar remark came when a question was raised as to whether Barton should be consulted about the hiring of a fire captain’s son to join the department. There was a concern over the appearance of nepotism, the lawsuit says, and in response, Larkey allegedly told another fire official it was “none of that [expletive]’s business” who he hired.
Following the investigation Barton moved to have Larkey fired, a decision supported by the City Council, the lawsuit says. Larkey resigned May 31, 2019.
Larkey as Belton mayor
Barton alleges those actions concerning Larkey’s employment factored into his mayoral campaign and her ultimate termination from her job. During a live mayoral debate, Larkey openly discussed firing her, the lawsuit says, and on other occasions discussed “plans to get revenge.”
In April 2021, residents of Belton, home to about 24,000 people, elected Larkey as mayor in a four-way race that included incumbent Jeff Davis. Larkey comfortably won the contest with 912 votes, representing 37% of the ballots cast.
After Larkey took office, Barton alleges she was “subjected to a continuing pattern of disparate treatment and different terms and conditions of employment based on her sex.” She accuses Larkey of routinely sidestepping her while she was still in the role, including by issuing directives to city employees and department leaders who were under her supervision.
For example, the lawsuit says Larkey gave verbal permission to a local brewpub to have its customers drink outside, which was not legal at the time. After being told the practice could result in the brewery losing its business license, the lawsuit says Larkey asked for city staff to evaluate changes to city law, a process Barton was not invited to take part in.
Other allegations include meetings with city department leaders on a regular basis without the knowledge or consent of Barton, an action she says clearly violates Belton’s city charter. The lawsuit alleges Larkey’s actions led to “major disruptions” and “a vast amount of fear and uncertainty with staff.”
City manager fired
In September 2021, Barton says Larkey called a meeting and presented her with a separation agreement. She says the City Council ultimately voted in favor of her termination at Larkey’s request during an executive session Oct. 12.
Barton later filed a complaint with the Missouri Human Rights Commission, and the state agency issued a right-to-sue notice, according to the civil lawsuit. In February, Barton was hired as the city manager of Parkville.
Asked for comment on the civil lawsuit Thursday, Barton deferred to her attorney Kristi Kingston, of the Overland Park firm Employee & Labor Law Group of Kansas City. Kingston said in an email that she and her client believed the lawsuit needed to be filed and that it “speaks for itself.”
“We have faith in our judicial system, and we won’t be making any further comments until that process is complete,” she said.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 11:54 AM.
