Penticton councillor files claim against former employer

PENTICTON – Penticton city councillor Judy Sentes launched a small claims court action against former employer Okanagan-Similkameen Neurological Society this week.

According to court documents filed Jan. 20, Sentes was employed as executive director with the society from August 1994 until her retirement on July 8, 2013.

Sentes claims in the filing she was to receive a payment upon her retirement to make up for low wages as executive director. She claims the written agreement describing the payment went missing, along with other records. In May 2013, the society's board approved a lump sum payment of $24,944.83, payable in January 2014 and a further $12,115.24 split into equal monthly payments of $198.53, she says. Sentes is seeking $24,944.83 in damages, plus interest and costs of legal action for a total of $25,120.83.

None of the claims have been proven in court. The neurological society has not yet filed a statement of defence. Calls and emails to Sentes and the society have not been returned.

Sentes serves as a Penticton director on the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board, in addition to being vice-chair of the Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.