Planning and Economic Development Director Fired in New Baltimore
The Wednesday night Downtown Development Authority board meeting was canceled in light of news Judy Sproat was no longer with the city.
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A department head in New Baltimore who was tasked with luring business to the city's historic downtown was let go Tuesday, according to multiple sources.
Judy Sproat, director of planning and economic development, was released from her position after multiple years with the city. New Baltimore Mayor Larry Smith notified city officials of her termination in a recent email. The reasoning behind the move was not immediately clear.
Smith nor Sproat returned phone calls Wednesday night, seeking comment.
Councilman Karl Rutledge said Smith sent city council members a message about Sproat being let go. The decision was not required to go before council for approval because she was an at-will employee. City Council met Monday night in a regularly scheduled meeting but there was no mention of Sproat.
Under the current city charter, drafted in the 1970s, there's few specifics about how at-will employees are terminated, according to city officials.
"There are some areas that are vague or totally absent from the charter" in regards to human resources and firing for cause, Rutledge said.
Some council members championed a new charter but that was voted down by a majority last summer. Amendments are expected, however, to be made in the near future.
Last summer, Sproat's job description and title came under scrutiny. During a council meeting, Councilman Ken Butler questioned in June why Smith wanted to change her job title from "director of planning and economic development" to "director of economic development and grant writing."
Smith told Patch then that he altered the title because she does not have a formal background in planning and had no formal job description until that point. He said the move did not change her annual salary of about $51,000 that was paid by three different city funds.
Sproat was brought on board by the former mayor more than four years ago.
"She was hired by Tom Goldenbogen," Rutledge, who was on the planning commission at the time, said. "Council never voted for or against her hiring."
In her role, she regularly met with potential business owners in hopes of ushering them to the historic downtown. She also sought grants for city improvements and tried to find creative solutions for projects, such as the old water tower.
Most recently, Sproat helped work on securing a Port Authority grant for a public harbor in the old beach section of Walter and Mary Burke Park. That project is underway.
The city's Downtown Development Authority board canceled its Wednesday night meeting in light of the news. Sproat had been in charge of compiling the board's agenda and worked closely with members, some of whom just learned she was no longer with the city.
Last March, another city employee, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Carlos Aprea, was let go amid controversy.
Check back with Patch for updates on this story.
Carol
9:33 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Who will be taking over Judy's job? Her position is truly going to be needed to make downtown New Baltimore come alive this Summer with the new boat docks and new businesses.
l.c.
10:55 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
From the looks of the old looking downtown anybody could do it. Years and years of so called ideas to improve, but nothing happens.
kaley
12:29 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
Where is the street scape project she screwed up. It was supposed to be the one shining beacon in downtown. Months ago she knew it came in over bid and no effort was made to see what they could cut from the project so that at least are dull and decaying downtown had something. What I want to know is why didn't city council pursue this and find out why they project basically landed in the toilet.
Shawn
8:14 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Are you kidding me? Was she responsible for the sandpits every 50 feet in the city owned sidewalk down there. Which by the way have been there for more than three years now. That downtown has so much potential yet is totally ignored year after year. Congrats on the boat docks but afraid there will need to be allot more for repeat visits. Its time people to wake up and toss that New Baltimore attitude of pointing fingers to lay blame and lets see some action. That downtown is on life support for gods sake. By the way class act on emailing Judy on her firing that speaks volumes about that government body. Small town with some big town politics for sure.
chris
8:14 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Why are the DDA minutes missing from the New Baltimore City website? How was Ms.Sproat being paid if the DDA has no monies? Is it true there was never a DDA budget in written words until 2011? Is it true over 100k of tax payer money was spent on the planning for the streetscape, why not just buy the trees instead of planning it and borrowing for it with MDOT- after all the street scape was about curbs not awnings and paint for the buildings? How many years of paying a DDA director is needed when we could have just planted new trees? Why have so many businesses left during this directors time in New Baltimore? If these council persons truely care about this town, why do let all the new up and coming businesses leave? We had a sparkle, and now we have nothing. Why are no tickets being given to a downtown- rundown business when the city has no problem giving tickets to any private citizen it chooses? Why does the city run several events at the recreation center even when it is way over capacity for being safe in the event of of a fire? Am I the only one who sees this???? Is it true that Jeff Payne editor of the Voice is buddies with council person Ken Butler and they write up biased articles favoring Judy Sproat because they do not like the Mayor? Do they share vacations up north in the cottage of Ken Butler New Baltimore council person?
Shawn
9:57 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Great points Chris as many residents have been ticketed for a portion of their sidewalk being raised. Those sandpits violate ordinances and nothing has been done. At the minimum there should be cones placed at each spot. That building next to the bakery is falling apart and I have actually kicked fallen pieces of wood from the sidewalk off to the side on some of my walks. Blight at its best as the weeds have overgrown the sidewalks by up to six inches during the summer months. Ther certainly is not much eye appealing in that city other than the few businesses attempting to make a difference. Good luck to them because I feel they are on their own. None of this had anything to do with Ms. Sprout. Her back was up against the wall and too many times her pleas fell upon deaf ears. More nerve wracking is the fact when the mayor was asked what's next after Judy's firing he replied, "We will play it by ear". Once again there are some deaf ears in that city.