Altoona suspends code officer for Facebook comment –

Local News Campanaro placed on leave for ‘derogatory and insensitive’ reply to Facebook post The city has suspended one of its code officers for a “derogatory and insensitive” Facebook comment the officer made Tuesday evening in response to a resident’s post about the Altoona Area School District implementing a clear bag policy for sporting events at Mansion Park, according to City Manager Christopher McGuire. “…you could just prevent Negroes from going,” wrote Scott Campanaro, the code officer. “Might seem racist — but it is not wrong.” McGuire, City Council members and others in leadership were “all appalled” at the comments of the officer, whose city keys, computer and vehicle were taken from him and who was placed on paid leave Wednesday morning in keeping with the city’s contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the city’s personnel policy, McGuire said. On its face, Campanaro’s comment would seem to violate prohibitions in the city’s conduct policy against expressions of racism and against certain uses of social media, according to McGuire. As a public employee, Campanaro is entitled to a hearing before imposition of final discipline in the matter, based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1985 Loudermill
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