Walbridge village manager dismissed

3/1/2005

At the recommendation of the Walbridge mayor, the village council voted at a special meeting yesterday to remove the village manager from her post.

Mayor Dan Wilczynski recommended that Karen Verbryke be removed, and council voted 6-0 to concur with the mayor after a 10-minute, closed-door executive session.

Ms. Verbryke has been suspended with pay since Feb. 18, but will no longer be paid as of today. Her salary was $45,900 a year.

The mayor would not give a reason in the open meeting for his recommendation, which was effective yesterday after the vote.

The mayor said there is a clause in the ordinance that established the position in June, 2003, that states the person in the position can be removed without cause. The clause was put there at the recommendation of the village Solicitor Brian Ballenger.

"It's just not working out," the mayor said. "It's time for a change."

As of now, Mayor Wilczynski said he does not plan to fill the position with someone new. He said the three village supervisors who reported to the village manager will now report directly to him.