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Ashwaubenon committee authorizes recruitment to replace retiring public works operations supervisor
Summary
The Finance & Personnel Committee approved recommending a revised Public Works Operations Supervisor job description and authorized advertising and hiring after the long-serving supervisor, Lee VanDenElzen, announced his retirement; staff said the vacancy could last four to six weeks with a target fill date in mid-May.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Finance & Personnel Committee voted March 17 to recommend recruitment and hiring for a revised Public Works Operations Supervisor position after the retirement of a 28-year employee.
Village staff said the current supervisor, Lee VanDenElzen, will retire with a last day of April 17. Staff reviewed the existing job description, found gaps between the written duties and actual work — particularly responsibilities for fleet and facilities management — and proposed a clarified three-page description to align advertising with the position’s day-to-day duties. The committee moved and seconded the recommendation and approved it on a voice vote.
The village manager said two internal employees with more than 10 years of service have expressed interest and that the recruitment will be advertised both internally and externally. Staff said the goal is to have a replacement in place by mid-May if the Village Board and hiring process permit; the manager noted a likely four- to six-week vacancy if that timing slips. "Lee's last day is April 17th," the village manager said, and "in a perfect world, we'd hire and have someone here well before then."
Committee members pressed staff on recruitment challenges. Staff noted a recent failed recruitment for a different field position and warned that public-sector hiring has become more difficult, saying, "there isn't the gleam in public service like there used to be." The revised job description explicitly documents work such as managing solid-waste tasks, writing vehicle specifications and overseeing a fleet of "120 plus assets," duties staff said had not been clearly captured on paper.
The motion to recommend the revised position description and authorize advertising and hiring was approved by voice vote with no recorded roll call. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final consideration.
Next steps: staff will advertise the vacancy internally and externally and bring any required approvals to the Village Board; timing of interviews and final hire depends on board schedules and applicant availability.
