City joint committees accept HR Director’s resignation
NORWICH – City officials passed a motion to accept the resignation of Human Resource Director Deborah DeForest at the joint committees meeting on Tuesday, after she was placed on paid administrative leave and a private investigator was hired to review work in the office.
According to City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike, DeForest emailed notification of her retirement, effective June 10, to the mayor and city council on May 23.
At the Tuesday meeting, Carnrike said, “...in reviewing the department head handbook, and reaching out to both New York State, [DeForest] has not filed for retirement which had to be done, so this is considered a resignation to accept a new job with a private sector.”
On Wednesday, DeForest declined comment on the matter.
The sole member of the city’s Human Resource Department, DeForest has been on paid administrative leave since April 23. Since then, the city hired a private sector investigator from Broome County with municipal human resource and civil service experience to execute a review of the city’s human resource administration.
On Wednesday Carnrike said she was not able to comment on the findings of the investigation, but said “...basically we had someone come in and just give us an overall review, and just basically from the outset it was apparent that we were not keeping up with changes in, you know, human resources.”
Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell made a motion Tuesday to accept DeForest’s resignation and to send it to city council, which was seconded by Alderman Ward 5 David Zieno.
The first vote to send a motion for DeForest’s resignation to the common council failed to get enough support from committee members.
Initially, Alderman Ward 2 Brian Doliver and Alderwoman Ward 4 Linda Kays-Biviano abstained from voting, and with Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein and Alderman Ward 6 Robert Jeffrey absent, council members noted the motion would not pass without the majority of the body’s support––or the four votes of the alderpersons present.
Kays-Biviano said, “I have a question before I change: Was [DeForest] notified of this that she needed to apply for [retirement]? I mean, she should know because she’s [Human Resource Director], but was there some reason why she didn’t apply for retirement?”
Caldwell responded that the council could assume a number of things why an employee may or may not choose to file for retirement versus a resignation, but said it would be unfair to make assumptions.
“I think an examination of the guidelines of the retirement system could allow us to make assumptions but again I don’t think that’s fair to anyone ... So without specifically asking the employee why they did or did not take that action, I don’t think it would be prudent to draw that conclusion,” Caldwell said.
Kays-Biviano subsequently changed her vote to aye, before Doliver made a motion to enter executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular individual, which was seconded by Caldwell.
Upon exiting executive session about 15 minutes later, the joint committees voted on the motion to accept DeForest’s resignation effective June 10, and, with Kays-Biviano and Doliver’s support, the motion carried 4-0.
Asked why she changed her vote, Kays-Biviano said it was because she wanted to make sure DeForest “...had a fair chance and had been notified.” The Evening Sun was unable to contact Doliver prior to print time Wednesday to clarify why he changed his vote.
In addressing DeForest’s 22-years with the city, Carnrike said Wednesday, “She was an employee of the city for 22 years, and again, times change, regulations change, and keeping up with those can be a tedious task, but its necessary."
Carnrike said it was apparent DeForest had secured a new position with a private sector and that her job search had begun prior to her being placed on paid administrative leave.
“Nothing against her, she served the city to the best of her ability for 22 years and we certainly wish her well in her new venture,” Carnrike said.
The city council will discuss the resignation at its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. All the members of the joint committee also sit on the city’s common council.
According to City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike, DeForest emailed notification of her retirement, effective June 10, to the mayor and city council on May 23.
At the Tuesday meeting, Carnrike said, “...in reviewing the department head handbook, and reaching out to both New York State, [DeForest] has not filed for retirement which had to be done, so this is considered a resignation to accept a new job with a private sector.”
On Wednesday, DeForest declined comment on the matter.
The sole member of the city’s Human Resource Department, DeForest has been on paid administrative leave since April 23. Since then, the city hired a private sector investigator from Broome County with municipal human resource and civil service experience to execute a review of the city’s human resource administration.
On Wednesday Carnrike said she was not able to comment on the findings of the investigation, but said “...basically we had someone come in and just give us an overall review, and just basically from the outset it was apparent that we were not keeping up with changes in, you know, human resources.”
Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell made a motion Tuesday to accept DeForest’s resignation and to send it to city council, which was seconded by Alderman Ward 5 David Zieno.
The first vote to send a motion for DeForest’s resignation to the common council failed to get enough support from committee members.
Initially, Alderman Ward 2 Brian Doliver and Alderwoman Ward 4 Linda Kays-Biviano abstained from voting, and with Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein and Alderman Ward 6 Robert Jeffrey absent, council members noted the motion would not pass without the majority of the body’s support––or the four votes of the alderpersons present.
Kays-Biviano said, “I have a question before I change: Was [DeForest] notified of this that she needed to apply for [retirement]? I mean, she should know because she’s [Human Resource Director], but was there some reason why she didn’t apply for retirement?”
Caldwell responded that the council could assume a number of things why an employee may or may not choose to file for retirement versus a resignation, but said it would be unfair to make assumptions.
“I think an examination of the guidelines of the retirement system could allow us to make assumptions but again I don’t think that’s fair to anyone ... So without specifically asking the employee why they did or did not take that action, I don’t think it would be prudent to draw that conclusion,” Caldwell said.
Kays-Biviano subsequently changed her vote to aye, before Doliver made a motion to enter executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular individual, which was seconded by Caldwell.
Upon exiting executive session about 15 minutes later, the joint committees voted on the motion to accept DeForest’s resignation effective June 10, and, with Kays-Biviano and Doliver’s support, the motion carried 4-0.
Asked why she changed her vote, Kays-Biviano said it was because she wanted to make sure DeForest “...had a fair chance and had been notified.” The Evening Sun was unable to contact Doliver prior to print time Wednesday to clarify why he changed his vote.
In addressing DeForest’s 22-years with the city, Carnrike said Wednesday, “She was an employee of the city for 22 years, and again, times change, regulations change, and keeping up with those can be a tedious task, but its necessary."
Carnrike said it was apparent DeForest had secured a new position with a private sector and that her job search had begun prior to her being placed on paid administrative leave.
“Nothing against her, she served the city to the best of her ability for 22 years and we certainly wish her well in her new venture,” Carnrike said.
The city council will discuss the resignation at its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. All the members of the joint committee also sit on the city’s common council.
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