The focus of the three women's complaints is18-year city manager Robert W. Healy, head of theexecutive department in charge of overseeing themunicipal government.

"That's where it begins and ends," Zucker says.In the structure of the Cambridge city government,the city manager is a strong position, with afinger in every municipal pie.

Healy has received a lot of criticism from citycouncilors and local media in the past few years,alleging inappropriate hiring procedures,including filling positions without appropriatelyposting them, and failing to hire minorityapplicants in favor of white applicants whosequalifications were sometimes less impressive.

William A. Gomes, Equal Employment OpportunityOfficer from 1985 to 1998, accused Healy of racediscrimination as a witness for the three women'scomplaint.

"In my view, the management of the city ofCambridge, as an employer, has resisted treatingpeople of color equally," Gomes says in a writtenstatement. He says he found Healy "downrighthostile" when he brought up his concerns withhiring procedures.

In addition, he alleges that the city wasmisclassifying positions in its federally mandatedEqual Employment Opportunity reports in a way thatinflates the number of minorities considered to bemanagers.

Moreover, he says, the practice continues.

Healy denies any inappropriate behavior, citingthe last three managerial positions he hasfilled--all with racial minorities.

"I want to make it clear to all residents ofour community that, in no instance during myadministration has the City ever been found by anyagency or court to have discriminated againstanyone," Healy wrote in a statement