Olympia parks director to resign
By Matt Batcheldor
The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)
May 22, 2013
Olympia parks director Linda Oestreich is resigning, nearly two weeks after the conclusion of a city investigation into allegations of discrimination and misuse of city time and equipment in the parks department. Her last day with the city will be July 31.
Oestreich, who has worked for the city nearly 24 years, submitted a resignation letter Friday.
City Manager Steve Hall declined to comment about whether Oestreich was asked to leave.
“I guess it’s going to be big shoes to fill, but she’s done a lot of great things for the city and she’s decided she’s going to leave,” Hall said.
Oestreich said that she was not asked to leave and her departure was not related to the city’s investigation. She said she had been pondering leaving her job for the last couple of years.
“I’m sure this was just an excellent time to move on,” she said. “I want to get out and enjoy parks.”
Oestreich’s department was the subject of an internal investigation into anonymous allegations of improper sexual behavior, sexual harassment, discrimination, and misuse of city time and equipment, centered around Parks Operations Manager Rhonda Teitzel.
The allegations were made in a March 15 letter to city Human Resources Director Joe Olson, signed “City of Olympia Parks Staff.” The letter said, “We have not gone to Linda (Oestreich) and (Associate ParksDirector) David (Hanna) because we do not feel that they would be supportive and would sweep it under the carpet.”
Olson began investigating on March 18, and concluded the investigation on May 8. The investigation does not fault Oestreich or Hanna. Hall said that Oestreich has not been disciplined.
Teitzel and Waste ReSources Director Dan Daniels admitted to having a sexual encounter in his office, as the letter alleged. Teitzel resigned after being placed on administrative leave, and Daniels was placed on paid leave for a week, then suspended without pay for two weeks, demoted and placed on a “last chance agreement” as a result of the letter.
Two parks maintenance employees accused of anti-gay discrimination and misuse of city time or equipment, Eric Lakewold and Don Davis, were allowed to voluntarily transfer to the city’s public works department. Lakewold had sought a voluntary demotion prior to the investigation and Davis sought a voluntary demotion after the investigation.
The two did not face any formal discipline and the investigation did not substantiate that the comments the two made were anti-gay. The investigation report said the voluntary moves “are somewhat consistent with the level of discipline the city may have considered.”
Another employee, Lisa Hall, was moved from the maintenance center at Priest Point Park to parks headquarters at The Olympia Center as a result of the investigation. Hall, who is not related to the city manager, was found to have violated a directive not to talk about the city’s investigation to other employees.
Oestreich declined to comment on the investigation.
She reflected on her tenure with the city, starting with 14 years as the city’s arts manager. She became the city’s interim director 10 years ago and full-time director a year later.
Oestreich, a native of suburban Milwaukee, Wis., said she didn’t know what her next career step would be. She said she wanted to spend more time at her home in rural Mason County, and more time with her art, family and grandchildren.
“I just kind of want to slow down for a bit and, you know, just take some time to catch my breath,” she said.
She said she was staying on with the city until the end of July so she can finish working on some projects, including designing a park at the city’s Artesian Well and putting together a funding package to purchase property on the downtown isthmus for a park.
“I have worked really hard and dedicated a lot of my time to the city,” she said.
The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)
May 22, 2013
Olympia parks director Linda Oestreich is resigning, nearly two weeks after the conclusion of a city investigation into allegations of discrimination and misuse of city time and equipment in the parks department. Her last day with the city will be July 31.
Oestreich, who has worked for the city nearly 24 years, submitted a resignation letter Friday.
City Manager Steve Hall declined to comment about whether Oestreich was asked to leave.
“I guess it’s going to be big shoes to fill, but she’s done a lot of great things for the city and she’s decided she’s going to leave,” Hall said.
Oestreich said that she was not asked to leave and her departure was not related to the city’s investigation. She said she had been pondering leaving her job for the last couple of years.
“I’m sure this was just an excellent time to move on,” she said. “I want to get out and enjoy parks.”
Oestreich’s department was the subject of an internal investigation into anonymous allegations of improper sexual behavior, sexual harassment, discrimination, and misuse of city time and equipment, centered around Parks Operations Manager Rhonda Teitzel.
The allegations were made in a March 15 letter to city Human Resources Director Joe Olson, signed “City of Olympia Parks Staff.” The letter said, “We have not gone to Linda (Oestreich) and (Associate ParksDirector) David (Hanna) because we do not feel that they would be supportive and would sweep it under the carpet.”
Olson began investigating on March 18, and concluded the investigation on May 8. The investigation does not fault Oestreich or Hanna. Hall said that Oestreich has not been disciplined.
Teitzel and Waste ReSources Director Dan Daniels admitted to having a sexual encounter in his office, as the letter alleged. Teitzel resigned after being placed on administrative leave, and Daniels was placed on paid leave for a week, then suspended without pay for two weeks, demoted and placed on a “last chance agreement” as a result of the letter.
Two parks maintenance employees accused of anti-gay discrimination and misuse of city time or equipment, Eric Lakewold and Don Davis, were allowed to voluntarily transfer to the city’s public works department. Lakewold had sought a voluntary demotion prior to the investigation and Davis sought a voluntary demotion after the investigation.
The two did not face any formal discipline and the investigation did not substantiate that the comments the two made were anti-gay. The investigation report said the voluntary moves “are somewhat consistent with the level of discipline the city may have considered.”
Another employee, Lisa Hall, was moved from the maintenance center at Priest Point Park to parks headquarters at The Olympia Center as a result of the investigation. Hall, who is not related to the city manager, was found to have violated a directive not to talk about the city’s investigation to other employees.
Oestreich declined to comment on the investigation.
She reflected on her tenure with the city, starting with 14 years as the city’s arts manager. She became the city’s interim director 10 years ago and full-time director a year later.
Oestreich, a native of suburban Milwaukee, Wis., said she didn’t know what her next career step would be. She said she wanted to spend more time at her home in rural Mason County, and more time with her art, family and grandchildren.
“I just kind of want to slow down for a bit and, you know, just take some time to catch my breath,” she said.
She said she was staying on with the city until the end of July so she can finish working on some projects, including designing a park at the city’s Artesian Well and putting together a funding package to purchase property on the downtown isthmus for a park.
“I have worked really hard and dedicated a lot of my time to the city,” she said.