Naperville names new head of water 6 months after giving retiring director $30K in severance

March 01-- Mar. 1--The city of Naperville on Thursday announced Darrell Blenniss Jr. as the new director of the city's Water and Wastewater Utility.

Blenniss is currently the executive director of the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, an intergovernmental cooperative that represents 12 communities, according to its website. Blenniss will begin his job with the city March 25 with an annually salary of $164,000.

"Darrell Blenniss has over 20 years of management experience, which I know will serve the city well," City Manager Doug Krieger said in a news release. "His experience in utility management, capital improvement and financial planning, along with his commitment to being a team player, will help us usher in a new era in our Water and Wastewater Utility. I welcome Darrell to Naperville and look forward to working with him."

The water director position has been open since August. The city received 57 applications for the position and interviewed six candidates, according to Linda LaCloche, spokeswoman for the city of Naperville.

"During his 12 years at CLCJAWA, Blenniss successfully guided the agency through the first expansion of its membership by adding four new villages and two unincorporated communities as well as oversaw a $53 million operating and capital budget," according to the news release.

Blenniss has also served as the city manager of Danville, Ky., and as the assistant village manager for Grayslake.

"I'm thrilled to be returning to municipal government with the city of Naperville," Blenniss said in the news release. "Naperville is well-regarded as a progressive, customer-focused city. I look forward to building upon the outstanding water and wastewater service Naperville already offers its customers."

Naperville in September granted the utility's previous director, Jim Holzapfel, a $30,000 severance payment upon his August retirement. The city at the time declined to say why.

Mike DiSanto, attorney for the city of Naperville, in September said, "Jim did retire from the city, and the city has no further comment regarding this personnel matter." When asked at the time if it is regular procedure for Naperville to award severance payments to retiring employees, DiSanto said "the city would also not have a comment regarding that personnel policy."

Holzapfel's severance payment was equal to 400 work hours at his $75.80 hourly pay rate, according to city records. In addition to the severance payment, Holzapfel cashed out 173.23 paid time-off hours totaling $13,131 and 720 sick hours totaling $54,579 paid into his retiree health savings plan.

ehegarty@tribpub.com

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