Mayor Setti Warren informed the Board of Aldermen earlier this evening that the city’s director of Human Resources, Wesley Layne, has resigned, effective immediately.
Layne started in his position in April of this year. He succeeded Delores Hamilton who left in May 2013.
Hmmmmm…
Another one bites the dust
With so many positions needing to be filled, this is gonna be tough. You need a solid HR dpt to deal with the common transfers in and out of departments that naturally happen. If HR is on shaky ground because of transfers that has ripple effects… I hope a solution can be found and a new director hired asap.
This.
So many top people leaving can’t some one enlighten us tax payers out here? What is going on at city hall?
Good one TH-M. What is going on there ?
In this case, you have to wonder what happened behind the scenes. “Resigning” effective immediately often means that someone was given the choice between resigning or being terminated for cause. I wouldn’t make any assumptions about how this reflects on the Mayor (nor on Layne) until more information becomes available.
I keep hearing that there are many positions that need to be filled in town hall but right now theres only 10 or so vacancies posted at the city site, with the most (4) vacancies in public works. Is that an unusual number for a city this size, or are their vacant positions advertised just internally or elsewhere? Just curious really.
I forgot to include the city link: http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/hr/jobs.asp
Whatever happened to the Mayor’s “greatest management team in the history of cities and towns” I guess the best aren’t flocking to work here Mr Mayor.
I’m not even going to assume it’s the Mayor’s fault, just an incredibly childish statement made by the Mayor during election time that people ate up.
@Tom: Perhaps a different way to look at the comment about the “greatest management team in the history of cities and towns” is that the mayor was praising his management team. Nothing childish about that.
I think his Honor has some explaining to do? Ted, why has the Board been so silent on the issue of senior managers leaving?
Championing team is childish?
Gail, if that was his intent, nothing childish about that.
But come on Gail, you can’t possibly believe that??? He has not corrected himself or made it public that it was his intent, so all we can go off of is his words.
If people thought they were getting the recognition and praise from the Mayor most of these people probably deserve they probably wouldn’t be leaving. When I was still friends with the Mayor I approached him to tell him that his employees are feeling neglected, he ignored me by saying ahh, there just jealous.
If he was trying to praise his current team he’d say something like, it gives me an opportunity to add onto the currently greatest management team in the history of cities and towns.
Just admit there’s something fishy going on. Something we’ll probably never know, because when there is an issue they all sign confidentiality agreements. Someoone should file for FOIA on any and all confidentiality agreements, maybe we’ll see the truth then (if that’s possible).
Tom, I seem to remember in 2009 when your friend was running for Mayor that he promised transparency. What happened? Anyone else remember?
Doug,
I sat there house party after house party and listened to the samething you did. I finally got fed up with it.
How about a story in next week’s TAB entitled ” Why so much employee turnover at Newton City Hall”. Tom, the truth usually comes out. I will remain hopeful.
Doug, I’m not a writer for the Tab. I don’t have the access I’d like to think they have, but I would love to read that story. I’d also love to read about some of the other dismissals over the years as well.
Doug, try this link:
http://newton.wickedlocal.com/article/20141113/NEWS/141118169
Tom – thanks for the link
Just wondering what qualifications Zaleznik has to be COO?
There are quite a few positions currently open.
ADA Coordinator, Director of Planning and Development, Commissioner of Public Health, Veteran’s Services Agent, Director of Historic Newton, 5 additional planning department positions……
Director of Historic Newton? When did that happen?
Gail, Cindy Stone announced her plans to retire several months ago. I do not believe that it has anything at all to do with management issues within this Mayor’s staff. She is leaving on a very high note, with the opening of Durant Kenrick, and I wish her well.
As far as the rest of the revolving door “team”, this reflects very poorly on the current administration and I am extremely disappointed. As far as Zaleznik’s qualifications…what a fine question! I would like to see an answer to this because I am sorely disappointed with her. She is a true “yes man.” Sadly, I have witnessed first-hand the disrespectful manner with which the mayor treats certain members of his staff and what surprises me most is that, through pure dedication for this city and its residents, some of the finest are actually staying on. I wonder, however, for how long……?
Native Newtonian, I have heard the same thing that the Mayor has not given the respect to employees that they deserve. Maybe he can stop trying to raise his national profile and focus on filling key administration positions. Alderman Sangiolo, why has the Board been so silent in demanding accountability from the Mayor? Remember Mayor Cohen? Regarding Ms. Zaleznik, she is an M.D. with a background in Public Health not City Administration. Sounds like there are lots of problems at City Hall and the only person speaking out seems to be Tom Sheff.
Setti Warren’s “I’m so proud” resonates as the revolving door crashes into a 1000 pieces. BTW, stay tuned for his political fundraiser on December 4 at The Cottage (at The Street).