Ex-CEO alleges firing scheme
Lawsuit claims Historic Annapolis president targeted Del Signore
The former CEO of Visit Annapolis has publicized accusations that she misused funds, drank at work and permitted racist and sexist remarks in the office in a new lawsuit claiming she was the victim of a plot to get her fired by the head of Historic Annapolis.
Connie Del Signore is suing Historic Annapolis president Robert Clark for $75,000, claiming he made up the allegations after she rejected his plans to divert resources to his projects.
Acting Chairman of Visit Annapolis Gary Jobson said Tuesday that Del Signore was justly fired in April after 17 years leading the organization. He said the results of an internal investigation will make those reasons clear Del Signore Clark when it is released.
“It will be clear why Connie Del Signore was terminated for cause,”
Jobson said.
In an email, Clark denied all of Del Signore’s claims but declined to answer any questions.
“Regarding the lawsuit, I have read the complaint and it is entirely without merit,” he wrote.
Historic Annapolis declined to comment since the suit is against Clark personally.
Filed Thursday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, the lawsuit spells out allegations against Del Signore for the first time.
She claims that as chair of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Clark moved resources away from Visit Annapolis to Historic Annapolis for the renovation of the James Brice House. Begun in 2016, the multi-million dollar restoration of the 18th-century mansion is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by Historic Annapolis.
The filing says that when Del Signore opposed a City Dock project by Clark that would raise taxes for businesses that work with Visit Annapolis, their professional relationship ended and Clark stopped attending Visit Annapolis board meetings.
The lawsuit does not clearly identify the project, but in 2019 Historic Annapolis funded a study designed to guide future development of City Dock being sought by Mayor Gavin Buckley. The resulting plan has been an integral part of a redevelopment effort intended to make the area more resilient to flooding while protecting historic landmarks.
Del Signore claims that Clark sought to have her fired so he could divert funds from Visit Annapolis to Historic Annapolis and the City Dock project, and as retaliation “for her past rejections of his effort,” the filing says. Del Signore claims that when she was “abruptly” fired in April, Jobson “falsely accused her of creating a work environment that was tolerant of sexual harassment and being under the influence on the job.”
Other allegations against Del Signore that she spelled out include misusing “tens of thousands of dollars,” drinking during work hours, permitting racist and sexist remarks and that she inappropriately “di-
Connie Del Signore is suing Historic Annapolis president Robert Clark for $75,000, claiming he made up the allegations after she rejected his plans to divert resources to his projects.
Acting Chairman of Visit Annapolis Gary Jobson said Tuesday that Del Signore was justly fired in April after 17 years leading the organization. He said the results of an internal investigation will make those reasons clear Del Signore Clark when it is released.
“It will be clear why Connie Del Signore was terminated for cause,”
Jobson said.
In an email, Clark denied all of Del Signore’s claims but declined to answer any questions.
“Regarding the lawsuit, I have read the complaint and it is entirely without merit,” he wrote.
Historic Annapolis declined to comment since the suit is against Clark personally.
Filed Thursday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, the lawsuit spells out allegations against Del Signore for the first time.
She claims that as chair of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Clark moved resources away from Visit Annapolis to Historic Annapolis for the renovation of the James Brice House. Begun in 2016, the multi-million dollar restoration of the 18th-century mansion is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by Historic Annapolis.
The filing says that when Del Signore opposed a City Dock project by Clark that would raise taxes for businesses that work with Visit Annapolis, their professional relationship ended and Clark stopped attending Visit Annapolis board meetings.
The lawsuit does not clearly identify the project, but in 2019 Historic Annapolis funded a study designed to guide future development of City Dock being sought by Mayor Gavin Buckley. The resulting plan has been an integral part of a redevelopment effort intended to make the area more resilient to flooding while protecting historic landmarks.
Del Signore claims that Clark sought to have her fired so he could divert funds from Visit Annapolis to Historic Annapolis and the City Dock project, and as retaliation “for her past rejections of his effort,” the filing says. Del Signore claims that when she was “abruptly” fired in April, Jobson “falsely accused her of creating a work environment that was tolerant of sexual harassment and being under the influence on the job.”
Other allegations against Del Signore that she spelled out include misusing “tens of thousands of dollars,” drinking during work hours, permitting racist and sexist remarks and that she inappropriately “di-
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