Amanda Jones,

a former clerk with the city of Fayetteville, has agreed to settle her

sexual discrimination lawsuit against the city, former City Manager Mike

Bryant and current City Manager Joe Morton.

The settlement,

which was signed Jan. 24, calls for the city to compensate Jones with

$30,000 for physical pain and suffering. It also cites that the city will

pay Jones's attorneys $20,000.

In return,

Jones agrees to resign her post effective Jan. 31 and drop her portion

of the civil suit she and former Main Street director Sherri Anderson

filed against the city, Bryant and Morton. She also agreed to refrain

from using disparaging or uncomplimentary language when referring to any

of the defendants in the case.

Bryant also

has agreed to drop his counterclaim against Jones for slander.

Anderson has

not agreed to settle the case.

In a public

statement, Jones said she is glad the case was resolved and she thanked

her fellow employees for their support and kindness. She also said she

filed the suit because she felt there was no other way "to address

the problem adequately."

"However,

for those who may have doubts about the truth, it can be found in the

open record notes of the independent attorney who conducted the initial

investigation for the city," she wrote.

Bryant also

issued a public statement, saying that he denies the allegations and wanted

the matter to be brought to court. He said he agreed to settle under the

threat from the city's insurance company to withdraw its coverage if he

didn't cooperate.

"The decision

to settle is based solely on the fact that the insurance company is paying

for the defense of the city, Joe Morton as well as myself," Bryant

wrote. "Thus the issue is one of cost, not truth."

Bryant also

apologized for the embarrassment caused by the suit and added that the

issue has "devastated not only my family and my career but also will

eventually affect many others as well."

Bryant resigned

in January 2000 in an agreement with City Council after Anderson's and

Jones's allegations were brought to the city attorney and investigated