By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Citing a study made after new Director of Public Works Jim Bergles came on in December, the City of Burlington eliminated the position of DPW supervisor last week.
The decision was made in closed session following the Common Council meeting April 6, and announced following the closed session.
The elimination meant that Dan Jensen, who had held the position for five years, was laid off. He left the next day, with no severance package.
City Administrator Carina Walters and outgoing Mayor Bob Miller both said Jensen’s departure was due strictly to the elimination of the position and had nothing to do with Jensen’s performance.
“It was just a reorganization,” Walters said Tuesday. “We identified areas that could be more efficient and a little bit more effective.”
Walters said the position was included in the 2016 budget, though, and that the city would save about $50,000 with the elimination. She said Jensen took the information “well” and said there isn’t necessarily notice – or severance – given in a reorganization.
“There’s an element of at-will employees there,” Walters said. “There are times where organizations look at ways to streamline the process.
“There are others within the department that will now assume more responsibilities,” she added.
Jensen did not respond to a request for a comment prior to press deadline.
With the reorganization, the go-between position of supervisor is gone, leaving Bergles as the head of the department over the various foremen running the streets, parks, water and wastewater departments.
Jensen had served as supervisor for streets and parks, but there was no supervisor position for water and wastewater, according to Walters.
The foremen – Tom Koch in streets, Aaron DeGrave in parks, Donny Hefty in wasterwater and Glenn Harjes in water – will now supervise those areas.
Bergles will assume the Park Board and Cemetery Association liaison positions that Jensen had held, while resident complaints and concerns will be handed at the front desk – likely by Deb Rintamaki, the administrative assistant to Bergles.
The complaints will be directed from there. Some engineering projects will be handled in-house, while consultant Kapur and Associates will be involved with others.
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You have got to be kidding me. For five years he has a job, then the next day, its simply gone? I understand at-will employment, but this doesn’t smell right. Way to go, Mayor Miller. I’m sure you’re still wondering why you were voted out. Just a puppet for which ever administrator is currently around.
Yet, the City Administrator got out of his contract without having to pay a dime back and they just let this guy go with no severance. Have to love Burlington Politics.
Five years? Good record? “there isn’t necessarily notice – or severance – given in a reorganization? Maybe when Mizz Walters is “reorganized” out of her job without notice or severance, she might feel differently. This is not how you treat decent people. Not in this town!
D j. I agree with you something smells and it’s not roses or flowers. A dedicated employee for five years and they eliminate the position… Yeah right. Is it a coincidence that miller does this after loosing the election. He has screwed up the city, the departments and now the personnel and their lives. I’ll bet the fear is running rampant among the city employees.
WHO’S NEXT.
Well, this administration has been consistent if nothing else. Bad decision after bad decision.
Being new to the community and having completed our new home build, I had the pleasure of dealing directly with Mr. Jensen a few times. He was courteous, so pleasant, even returning my call on his day off. I wonder after reading this, is the “Director” position more useful or meaningful than a “Supervisor” position? Sounds like the director won’t be supervising individual DPW departments, he won’t be handling complaints from residents…I wonder if reorganization and consolidation ever involves trimming the fat off the top? Just an observation from someone who saw Mr. Jensen pro-actively and professionally serve the community.