Firefighters in Barre have filed a lawsuit accusing the city manager of violating their right to privacy by opening their lockers and finding a nude photo.
The lawsuit claims City Manager Robin Bennett entered the firefighters’ private living space and searched the lockers without notice or a reasonable cause for suspicion.
In the past Bennett has denied the allegations. She says she spotted the photo when she was testing the locker doors.
She then told the fire chief to require that all “inappropriate” material be taken out of the building.
Unionized firefighters want the court to ban city officials from searching their lockers without reason.