Fired Planner Ran Business In City Hall City Officials Confirm Hendrixson Was Operating Amway Business Out Of His Office
City planner Jim Hendrixson was fired from his $40,000-a-year job Thursday for running a side business in his City Hall office and on city time.
Hendrixson, who worked for the city 10 years, was dismissed by a unanimous City Council vote.
Mayor Ron Chaney and council members refused to give any details or reasons for firing the planner, saying it was a confidential personnel matter.
“In all fairness to the individual and the city, it’s best we not disclose the reasons,” Chaney said.
But several city officials and others who know Hendrixson confirmed he was caught running an Amway business out of his city office. Amway is a national corporation that uses local representatives to distribute household products.
Hendrixson, who has been out of the office for several weeks because of back problems, did not return phone calls. He was not at the Thursday night meeting.
Chaney said he asked for Hendrixson’s resignation last week and expected the planner to quit.
“He apparently had a change of heart. That led to the decision tonight,” the mayor said.
The council met in executive session for about half an hour before returning and voting to fire Hendrixson.
Chaney said he would be surprised if Hendrixson took legal action against the city. Department heads work for and are appointed by the mayor and council and can be dismissed at anytime without explanation, Chaney said.
City officials learned of Hendrixson’s outside work and some other problems, one involving games on his city computer, from the planning and zoning commission. The commission detailed their concerns in a letter to Chaney several weeks ago.
City attorney Phil Robinson declined to release the letter, saying it was a personnel matter.
The city will launch an immediate search for a new planner and hopes to have someone in place before the end of the year.
In the meantime, intern Greg Doyon has been named acting planner.
, DataTimes