Mashpee – After experiencing her alleged racial discrimination as a town employee, a woman has filed a complaint against Mashpee’s discrimination in Massachusetts.
Stephanie Coleman, former executive secretary of former town manager Rodney Collins, filed a complaint of matches, color and retaliation on March 25. The committee arranged an investigation meeting with the town and Coleman on August 6. The competition was specifically identified as African Americans.
Coleman, 39, of Mashpee, was identified as Wampanoag and African-American. She claimed she was underpaid compared to her white colleagues and the town retaliated against her for talking publicly about her salary. She resigned on February 7.
Stephanie Coleman, former executive secretary of Marshby Town Manager Rodney Collins, has filed a complaint with the Massachusetts committee against discrimination, saying she was underpaid compared to her white colleagues, and the town openly retaliated against her for publicly saying her wages
“Mashpe deserves a government that values fairness, integrity and equal treatment,” Coleman said in an interview with The Times.
Collins said in an April 22 email to The Times that the town strongly denied any discriminatory practices or decisions related to Coleman. The complaints were “full of information that was inaccurate.” He said the town will not comment any more during the trial.
She said Coleman did not hire a lawyer related to her complaints against the town. She said she was not a member of the union, but worked under the personnel management plan.
What is the Massachusetts anti-discrimination committee?
The National Institutional Commission enforces the Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination Act by investigating complaints on employment, housing, public accommodation and other aspects of daily life. There is no need for a complaint fee, nor does it require a lawyer.
According to the agency’s online guide, the committee first reviewed the complaints to find that they fall within their jurisdiction. Investigators are assigned, and the complaint is then sent to the person who filed the complaint and the entity or person mentioned in the complaint is responded. The complainant can then answer the response. An investigation meeting may be held, mediation may lead to a solution, or an investigation and tendency will be conducted on whether illegal discrimination may occur. From there, there are many avenues, such as appeals, settlements or public hearings.
According to the annual report, the Commission recorded 3,553 new complaints in fiscal year 2024. The top three classes in the complaints are retaliation, disability and race.
Since 2020, two additional complaints against the town of Marshby have been filed with town school departments and school officials, based on information provided by the committee to the Times. One complaint was closed in July 2021 and the second complaint was closed in January 2024.
The committee's press secretary said the committee did not confirm or deny a public complaint filed against Justine Lavoye.
Massachusetts Discrimination Commission Annual Report 2024
Coleman starts working at the town hall
Coleman started working in 2017 at the town hall of the town treasury and tax collection department, and in 2023 she worked in the four-person town manager and select board office with a salary of $60,000. Coleman's supervisor, administrative assistant, made $90,000 in 2023.
The four people in the office at that time were Collins, assistant town manager, administrative assistant and Coleman. In the 2023 Town Report, the Select Committee describes Coleman and the Administrative Assistant as “significant intermediaries” to the public.
According to the town’s report, the town paid a total of about 800 people for work in 2023, ranging from $241,168 for firefighters who paid overtime to $31 for staff in the construction department.
Coleman trains and takes over the role of supervisor
In March 2024, Coleman learned that her supervisor – the administrative assistant – was retired. Coleman trained the supervisor’s position in preparation for retirement, the complaint said.
In September 2024, Collins provided another town employee to the health department with an increase in salary to assist in administrative assistant duties in the town manager’s office, the complaint said.
Coleman said she learned about the increase in salary because she often handles salary paperwork. She knew the increased salary was higher than hers and was performing normal duties and training to replace supervisors. She spoke with the assistant town manager. The town then gave up another employee’s salary increase, the complaint said.
The complaint said that in September 2024, Coleman's supervisor retired and was hired in October 2024 to fill the job for $37 an hour.
The complaint said the town went out for the town manager’s office outside in November 2024, while another town employee in white has been employed for $45 an hour since September. Because the salary is more than Coleman offers, she asked Collins to increase his salary, so it is comparable. According to the complaint, he refused.
In December 2024, Coleman spoke with a town HR manager about salary differences and racially-based discrimination statements, the complaint said. Then, in a meeting with Coleman, Collins and HR managers, Coleman repeated that she believes the difference in compensation is discriminatory. The complaint said Collins made a voice at that meeting and said he would not be accused of being racist.
The complaint said that on December 30, 2024, Coleman formally withdrew any request for an increase in wages. She told the Times that she became scared because she could lose her job by speaking out loud.
“I'm really lonely. I don't think anyone is listening to me,” Coleman said.
Throughout January 2025, Coleman continued to work full-time. The complaint said the town gave her the extra work she did in September and October.
An anonymous letter sent
Around January 2025, an anonymous letter was sent to Collins, which paid people differently based on race, according to a complaint filed by Coleman with a state agency.
The complaint said on February 3, 2025, Collins held a meeting with Coleman and others about the letter. At that meeting, Coleman denied knowing who wrote the letter. At the meeting, Collins was angry and said the letter was Coleman's fault because they discussed the salary in the office.
In a Feb. 4 email, Coleman told assistant Town Mali that she was uncomfortable in the office and would not return to work the next day, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Coleman took paid administrative leave on February 6 and was told to attend an administrative hearing on February 11 due to unprofessional conduct and fake sick leave. The complaint said Coleman denied the allegations and did not attend the hearing.
“It has nothing to do with me,” Coleman told The Times. “It’s about making sure no other color employees face the face of discrimination and retaliation that I endured.”
Rachael Devaney has written about community and culture. Contact her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @rachaeldevaney.
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This article originally appeared in Cape Cod Times: Former secretary of Mashpee town manager Rodney Collins claims bias
