Diane Rath, the executive director of the Alamo Area Council of Governments
San Antonio Express News
Megan Rodriguez, Staff writer
Diane Rath, the executive director of the Alamo Area Council of Governments, has been stripped of her duties, at least temporarily, amid employee complaints that she’s created a hostile work environment.
AACOG leaders placed Rath on paid administrative leave on Friday, a week into an internal investigation sparked by an employee’s anonymous complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about working conditions at the organization.
AACOG’s board chairman, James E. Teal, told board directors on Sept. 29 that the aim of the investigation was to ensure a safe workplace in light of the complaint. But his message was vague and didn’t mention Rath by name.
At least one AACOG board member received an anonymous letter last week — signed “faithful and loyal AACOG employees” — cataloging complaints against Rath.
“Over the last two years, I and others have been on the receiving end of relentless negative criticism, name calling, vulgar language, and all around cynical behavior that has created a hostile work environment by Diane Rath,” the letter states.
The letter writer, or writers, said they didn’t identify themselves because of concerns that Rath would retaliate against them.
The letter claims that Rath does not acknowledge employees’ efforts and offers only criticism, sometimes harshly.
“I understand that work does require open positive criticism for constant improvement, but work does not require us to work in an environment where you are being attacked personally,” the letter reads. “Unfortunately, I believe that in some instances these attacks are motivated by racial and prejudicial beliefs held by Diane Rath.”
Rath did not respond to a request for comment.
AACOG is a regional umbrella organization of local governments that provides services for veterans and elderly or disabled residents, as well as transportation, 911 systems, homeland security and weatherization assistance. Funded by government grants, the organization is based in San Antonio and covers 13 counties in South-Central Texas.
AACOG said it couldn’t publicly address personnel matters, and an EEOC spokesperson declined to provide a copy of the employee’s complaint.
Cliff Herberg is filling in as interim executive director, according to Teal’s note to the board. Herberg, a former first assistant district attorney for Bexar County, is general counsel and senior director at AACOG.
Rath has been running AACOG since late 2014.
Appointed by then-Gov. George W. Bush, Rath served as the chairwoman and commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission from 1996 through 2008. Before she was hired by AACOG, Rath was senior vice president at ResCare Workforce Services, now Equus Workforce Solutions.
San Antonio City Councilman Manny Peláez, who sits on AACOG’s board, called Rath a friend and said she “has never given me a reason to doubt her leadership.”
“Naturally, I am troubled by the allegations, but I trust the process and I trust my fellow board members to choose the path that honors everyone’s right to due process and dignity — rights that extend to all AACOG employees and Diane Rath,” Peláez said.