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Ann Arbor building department employees placed on paid administrative leave
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/12/2_ann_arbor_building_officials.html
December 21, 2014 at 5:35 AM
Two employees from the city of Ann Arbor's building department have been placed on paid administrative leave, but the reasons why aren't yet clear.
City officials aren't releasing many details, but City Administrator Steve Powers confirmed both Ralph Welton, the city's chief development officer, and John Swantek, a development services inspector, were placed on leave in early December.
Rumors that the two men were escorted out of city hall by police aren't entirely accurate, Powers said. He said there might have been a police presence as a matter of standard protocol, and police did give Swantek a ride to his car, but the reasons for placing the two men on leave do not involve any criminal activity.
Powers said both employees are on leave indefinitely because of issues related to the building department, and beyond that he can't say much.
"The city cannot comment on active personnel matters involving an employee," he said. "We have to go through a process, and when those processes are finished, we will report out to the extent that we can."
The city has hired Carlisle/Wortman Associates Inc., a private firm based in Ann Arbor, to help run the building department on a temporary basis.
The firm has been given authority to approve building permits and conduct plan reviews, essentially acting as the city's building official.
"We do provide building code consultation services to a number of communities, occasionally on an interim basis, and that's what we're doing," said Dick Carlisle, the company's president.
The city has entered into a contract with the firm for up to $25,000 worth of services with no definite end date.
"We brought in Carlisle/Wortman to keep the building department functioning at an efficient level," Powers said in an interview on Friday. "We are continuing to provide services to the customers of the city, and we will continue to ensure that the building code and other development regulations are being followed."
Welton, an Eastern Michigan University graduate, was the chief development official for Inkster from April 2006 to February 2010 before coming to Ann Arbor.
Reached via phone on Friday, Welton said he wishes he could comment, but he can't right now for legal reasons.
Swantek couldn't be reached for comment.
The Ann Arbor News has filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the city for copies of personnel records for both employees, as well as emails.
Local building industry professionals are concerned about Welton's absence, some saying Welton has been a breath of fresh air as head of the building department for the last nearly five years, creating a more customer-friendly culture.
Doug Allen, vice president of development services for Ann Arbor-based Peter Allen and Associates, said Welton was fair and made commonsense decisions.
Geoff Perkins, CEO of the Ann Arbor-based Perkins Construction Co. and a Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County board member, has chaired a task force for the past several years specific to building department issues. He agreed the department has made a lot of progress in recent years.
Perkins said he's planning to sit down with Sumedh Bahl, the city's community services area administrator, next week to discuss where the building department might go from here. Bahl, who oversees the department, couldn't be reached for comment.
Powers said he shares the desire to have the building department continue to be a responsive, customer service-oriented regulatory department of the city.
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/12/2_ann_arbor_building_officials.html
December 21, 2014 at 5:35 AM
Two employees from the city of Ann Arbor's building department have been placed on paid administrative leave, but the reasons why aren't yet clear.
City officials aren't releasing many details, but City Administrator Steve Powers confirmed both Ralph Welton, the city's chief development officer, and John Swantek, a development services inspector, were placed on leave in early December.
Rumors that the two men were escorted out of city hall by police aren't entirely accurate, Powers said. He said there might have been a police presence as a matter of standard protocol, and police did give Swantek a ride to his car, but the reasons for placing the two men on leave do not involve any criminal activity.
Powers said both employees are on leave indefinitely because of issues related to the building department, and beyond that he can't say much.
"The city cannot comment on active personnel matters involving an employee," he said. "We have to go through a process, and when those processes are finished, we will report out to the extent that we can."
The city has hired Carlisle/Wortman Associates Inc., a private firm based in Ann Arbor, to help run the building department on a temporary basis.
The firm has been given authority to approve building permits and conduct plan reviews, essentially acting as the city's building official.
"We do provide building code consultation services to a number of communities, occasionally on an interim basis, and that's what we're doing," said Dick Carlisle, the company's president.
The city has entered into a contract with the firm for up to $25,000 worth of services with no definite end date.
"We brought in Carlisle/Wortman to keep the building department functioning at an efficient level," Powers said in an interview on Friday. "We are continuing to provide services to the customers of the city, and we will continue to ensure that the building code and other development regulations are being followed."
Welton, an Eastern Michigan University graduate, was the chief development official for Inkster from April 2006 to February 2010 before coming to Ann Arbor.
Reached via phone on Friday, Welton said he wishes he could comment, but he can't right now for legal reasons.
Swantek couldn't be reached for comment.
The Ann Arbor News has filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the city for copies of personnel records for both employees, as well as emails.
Local building industry professionals are concerned about Welton's absence, some saying Welton has been a breath of fresh air as head of the building department for the last nearly five years, creating a more customer-friendly culture.
Doug Allen, vice president of development services for Ann Arbor-based Peter Allen and Associates, said Welton was fair and made commonsense decisions.
Geoff Perkins, CEO of the Ann Arbor-based Perkins Construction Co. and a Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County board member, has chaired a task force for the past several years specific to building department issues. He agreed the department has made a lot of progress in recent years.
Perkins said he's planning to sit down with Sumedh Bahl, the city's community services area administrator, next week to discuss where the building department might go from here. Bahl, who oversees the department, couldn't be reached for comment.
Powers said he shares the desire to have the building department continue to be a responsive, customer service-oriented regulatory department of the city.