Two Capac DPW workers terminated

Michigan Rural Water Assoc. holds licenses

 

CAPAC — Two DPW workers, and a number of village residents, are trying to figure out why the men are no longer employed with the village.

Following what some have called a heated exchange with a newly appointed Department Supervisor and DPW employees Bryan Miller and Aaron Woolman on March 19, both were notified by letter their services were no longer needed and they were terminated.

Given the opportunity by the Tri-City Times to address the situation, Youatt only replied, “no comment.”

On the village’s website, former council member Anthony Vigiletti is now listed at the DPW Supervisor while Youatt is listed as the Street Manager, along with his other duties as Village Manager.

Vigiletti resigned his position on council last year to take the DPW position, to avoid any potential conflict of interest. His position became effective in November of last year, according to meeting minutes.

Woolman and Miller shared their experiences and opinions on what transpired prior to their terminations.

Responding to a question as to why he thought they were terminated, Woolman stated, “Because the job we were doing wasn’t up to “standards.” They said we had poor work habits and we had been insubordinate.”

Woolman said the two workers were told by Vigiletti to pick up brush around the village on Monday, March 17, which they did, the men said.

“We were told to clean out garbage from the ditches, which we did,” said Miller. “Then, when we came in to the shop at the end of the day, they start complaining that it took us too long.”

The men were told to stay home on Tuesday and then directed to attend a meeting with city officials prior to the work day Wednesday, March 19.

According to the two former employees, there was also an issue with recently purchased equipment.

“They decided to put the backhoe up for sale and replaced it with a much less heavy duty tractor,” Miller said. “We tried to tell them the new equipment wasn’t as good, not as solid as the old stuff. It had weak metal and we knew it wouldn’t last long.”

The men started to take down the old playscape at Lions Park, as instructed, “and the bucket on the tractor got dented and bent,” Miller said. “They pinned that on me for damaging village property.”

Woolman added, “We told him (Youatt) several times while looking at new equipment that the new tractor wouldn’t replace the backhoe. The clamp bucket on the backhoe was one inch thick metal and wouldn’t dent or bend. The new bucket bent within an hour of us using it.”

The men said they felt their firing was uncalled for.

“If there was a problem with how we were doing our jobs, he (Vigiletti) could’ve went out into the field and shown us how he wanted things done,” Miller stated. “But he didn’t. He bitched us out and then sent us home.”

Both men also pointed out, “there was no process. No discipline, no verbal or written warnings, no unpaid time off. Nothing. They just said you’re terminated.”

Now, according to Miller, “the Michigan Rural Water people, who control our testing and requirements for the water system, have been calling and asking what is going on over here? People are noticing what has happened here and are concerned.”

The men said only Vigiletti and Police Chief Carlos Dealca (as a witness only) were part of the March 19 meeting when they were given their termination letters. “He (Youatt) didn’t show his face,” Miller said. “He stayed in the background and let someone else do (termination) it.”

The men said village council members didn’t know about what was happening until after the fact.

The claim was substantiated by council member Lynn Mandeville on a Capac social media thread when she said, “I was just told about the firing yesterday. It was due to ongoing issues, according to the letter sent by Travis. I won’t know more until the next council meeting.”

In the same thread, Mandeville told concerned residents, “I am guessing that we will have to hire a company to do the DPW work as I don’t think we can get two new people hired in enough time for all the spring work that needs to be done. But, we will see what the VM (Village Manager) and the other council members say at the next meeting (April 21, unless a special meeting is called before hand.)”

Countless residents are not pleased with what has transpired in the DPW department. One resident, speaking on the Capac thread commented, “It’s a damn shame about Bryan and Aaron, because both those guys love their jobs. They love doing things for the community.”

Miller, 66 and Woolman, who is 42, said along with their combined 12 years of service to the village, and 14 more years experience from Greg Smith who was also terminated within the past six months, “they don’t have a clue how things are done and where things are. They just lost three men who love the village, love the residents and who have given their hearts and souls to the job and village they love so much. They’ll find out.”

Smith, according to Miller and Woolman, was the DPW’s main machine operator, driver and the department mechanic.

Capac resident Carol Ann Fodale-Roberts stated, “It’s better to keep employment issues between the people it involves, but in this case it’s much bigger than that — Village of Capac TAX DOLLARS are being used in a wasteful manner, and it just keeps perpetuating without anyone held accountable.”

She feels, “the council members should definitely look very deep into the village manager’s actions on this. I wouldn’t believe everything he says. Why isn’t he and his DPW supervisor brought in with the two terminated employees in front of all council members to get all of the facts instead of just his version? I bet more facts would come to light.”

Roberts said she doesn’t want the situation to get, “swept under the rug like it has before in the past with this manager. It seems he gets what he wants no matter what and unfortunately at other people’s time and expense.”

She admonished the village council to “not let this event get swept under the rug without some accountability. I can’t believe that all of the past and recent terminations of Capac village employees, under this current village manager, are totally justified. It definitely looks like a pattern here, if things don’t go a certain way for a certain someone.”

In a section of Village Ordinance No. 2022-01 however; Section C says, in part, the Village Manager has the right “To suspend or terminate, at his/her discretion, employees and appointed officials of the Village of Capac, except for department heads.”

The amended Ordinance goes on to say of the Village Manager’s authority he is to; “Be responsible for personnel management and shall issue, subject to council approval, personnel rules applicable to all village employees.”

The Village of Capac hires general contractors to repair any major issues with their water system.

The Michigan Rural Water Association is the license holder of Capac’s water system. They allow testing to be done by any of the village’s employees, under authority of the MRWA’s licensing, according to village officials.

The next regular village council meeting in Capac is scheduled for April 21.