A former City of Willard employee is suing the city for discrimination and retaliation, alleging the city did not follow its policies when he reported sexual harassment.
The lawsuit filed in Greene County Sept. 27 by Greg Williams alleges he reported sexual harassment based on the conduct of the mayor Oct. 2, 2023, yet the city did not take any steps to address the situation. Williams was the city’s first director of economic development before the department was abruptly disbanded near the end of 2023.
While the petition does not name the mayor alleged to have sexually harassed Williams, at the time that the report was made, Sam Snider served as the mayor of Willard. Snider resigned just hours before his scheduled impeachment hearing on Oct. 26, a few weeks before Williams’ Nov. 15 termination. Jay Kirksey, the attorney representing Williams, confirmed that Snider was the mayor referenced in the lawsuit.
According to a Charge of Discrimination filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and attached to the lawsuit, Snider, this time explicitly named, allegedly asked Williams his age, whether he was still having sex, still “able to get it up” and whether he had ever had sex with a man. The document notes Williams told him these questions were inappropriate and on the same day made a verbal report to the city’s interim administrator and a written one to the city clerk/ human resources officer.