Four days before he was expected to start, Shawano’s newly hired director of public works informed city officials Tuesday he wouldn’t be taking the job after all. Kent Taylor, who was operations manager at the Green Bay Water Utility, will instead start a new job in Neenah on Friday as that city’s water utility director. Taylor accepted the public works director post two weeks ago to fill the vacancy left by Rick Stautz, who retired April 5 after 30 years with the city. His start day was to be Friday. Taylor delivered a letter to Shawano officials Tuesday, telling them he was declining the job offer after accepting another opportunity “more in line with my skill set.” The day before Taylor delivered his notice, a brief in The Post-Crescent of Appleton announced he had been hired as director of the Neenah water utility. According to The Post-Crescent, Taylor will start in Neenah Friday at a salary of $80,000. Taylor was offered an $82,000 salary for the Shawano position. Stautz was making $83,449 when he retired. Taylor’s turnaround rankled some city officials. “I must admit, learning of Mr. Taylor’s accepting two positions, both with the same start date of Friday, June 28, made me both disappointed and angry,” said Shawano Mayor Lorna Marquardt. “It really calls into question a matter of ethics and integrity.” The city will hold a special Common Council meeting next week to consider its options for filling the vacant post. “I think we have some good options within the existing candidate pool,” said City Administrator Brian Knapp. “We’ll certainly consider that option first.” Taylor was one of six candidates interviewed for the job out of 23 who applied. He and one other candidate were brought back for a second round of interviews, meetings with city officials and staff and a tour of the city and public works. Knapp said he was disappointed Taylor didn’t work out. “We were really looking forward to working with him,” he said. “It’s just disappointing, but people have to do what they have to do.”
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