Released Documents Shed Some Light on DPW Employees' Resignations

A custodial supervisor who resigned suddenly from the Enfield Department of Public Works Monday was working under a "Last Chance" agreement with the town, according to a document released to Enfield Patch after a Freedom of Information request.

Director of Human Resources Steve Bielenda submitted to Patch a copy of the agreement between the town and Michael Schultz, a 13-year employee.

The agreement was signed on June 19, 2012, three weeks after drug paraphernalia was found in the glove compartment of Schultz's town-owned work vehicle, the document says.

Following that discovery, Schultz consented to a polygraph examination, which proved inconclusive, and a drug test, in which he tested positive for marijuana, the document says.

The agreement says since Schultz "is a long term employee and his personnel file shows no negative work history, both Parties share an interest in suspending the investigation and granting Schultz with a "Last Chance" agreement, under restricted conditions."

Under the terms, Schultz agreed to submit to random drug/alcohol tests and was no longer allowed to bring his town-owned vehicle home. The agreement also says he would be terminated "if he engages in any conduct that violates any work rule, practice, assignment, policy or procedure or if he is negligent in carrying out his assigned duties."

Neither Bielenda nor Town Manager Matt Coppler would confirm if Schultz had violated the terms of the agreement prior to his resignation.

"Mr. Schultz made a decision that his best interests did not coincide with the town's," Coppler said Thursday.

Assistant Public Works Director Genaro Sepulveda also resigned Monday, leaving his $80,000 a year position after just seven months.

Bielenda said there were no disciplinary files on Sepulveda, but he was working under a six-month probationary period that had been extended.

"Again, the interests didn't coincide," Coppler said. "Genaro was nothing but professional during his time here."

Bielenda added, "We both mutually agreed working for the town of Enfield was not the right fit."

Sepulveda had run into problems in his previous position as a supervisor with the Hartford DPW, according to a Nov. 13, 2009 article in the Hartford Courant. He had been suspended earlier that year for "aggressive" and "rude" behavior, and employees who worked under him presented the city council with a "vote of no confidence" letter.