The Prescott Personnel Committee including Maureen Otwell, Bailey Ruona, Dar Hintz and Rob Daugherty with staff representative City Administrator Jayne Brand, began their meeting in open session on Tuesday evening, with statements made by an attorney representing former Public Works Director Hank Zwart. Catherine Munkrittrick, retained by Zwart, addressed the committee with several paragraphs detailing the termination of the longtime employee. Zwart is 59 years of age. Counsel stated that there was no advance warning, no previous complaints on file and a recent performance review stated Zwart’s work was exemplary. According to the information, Zwart was notified that he was terminated on Monday, April 2nd, and was then followed across town in a city vehicle from the Municipal building by Interim Police Chief Rob Funk and taken to the Public Works building where he was to remove his personal belongs and vacate the property. His attorney, conveyed to the committee that her client was humiliated by the action and was placed under the impression that the removal involving police inferred that something criminal in nature was involved.
That attorney also stated that Zwart received no confirmation of the complaint until April 9th, at which time he was called to meet with Prescott City Attorney Phil Helgerson and City Administrator Jayne Brand where the incident in question was revealed. The incident documented in the complaint, said his lawyer, was discussed with Administrator Brand at the time it occurred, with no action taken at that time. The written complaint, submitted by a member of the community was not signed, as required for formal action to be considered. Zwart states that he also was given no prior notice, received no confirmation of the charges and was not allowed to view the complaint against him, all , according to counsel, in direct violation of the city’s employment policy. Munkrittrik, currently serves as the City Attorney for Hudson, Wisconsin. There was also no discussion of a disciplinary action as required by a supervisor ,nor reviewal by the mayor, both specified in Prescott city policy.
The personnel committee , administrator Brand and Prescott City Attorney Philip Helgerson then closed the session for approximately 30 minutes. We asked Munkrittrick if Zwart was requesting a return to his position, she declined to address the terms requested. The doors then opened and the committee announced that the city would offer a settlement to Zwart. Attorneys representing both sides then met in private. Requests made, after that brief meeting regarding the dollar amount or other terms including benefits accrued, pension or possible reinstatement to his former postion as Public works Director, were met with no comment. KDWA also made a similar request of Helgerson and was met with no response.
