NORTH ATTLEBORO -- The town's electric department was advised that a former employee's sex discrimination complaint was groundless and agreed to a settlement only because its insurance company feared a costly legal wrangle, a department spokesman said Friday.

North Attleboro System Engineer Bill Hunt issued a statement on behalf of interim Manager Robert Ellston and the board of electric commissioners labeling a statement by former communications and marketing manager Patricia Vandette as `` misleading.''

Vandette, in a statement of her own, replied that her original announcement was truthful and asked why the commission would approve a settlement of a complaint that was without merit.