POULSBO — Just one year after losing changing its chief planner, another department head in the city of Poulsbo will be on the way out.

And then another. And possibly another.

Planning Director Glenn Gross retired from the City of Poulsbo in June 2003. He was replaced recently by former senior planner Barry Berezowsky.

That changing of the guard will be followed by City Engineer John Stephenson’s retirement in June 2004 and Finance Director Donna Bjorkman has announced her intention to leave her position in November 2004.

Public Works Superintendent Bill Duffy is eligible for retirement in August 2004 but said has not decided whether he will be leaving at that time or not. He intends to make a decision by spring.

Next year is shaping up to be a year of transition for the city’s leadership, commented Mayor Donna Jean Bruce.

“It’ll be kind of different for us but I think it will be spread out enough that it’ll work,” Bruce said.

Stephenson’s contract with the City of Poulsbo was unanimously extended by six months at the Dec. 10 council meeting to allow him to retire in June 2004. After nearly nine years in Poulsbo, the 40-year engineer said he had many reasons for wanting to retire, including grandchildren, traveling and time off.

“A lot of little but good reasons,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson, 64, was hired under the term of Mayor Mitch Mitchusson during a time when city engineers were dropping like flies in Little Norway. The person who held the position directly before him had been there a mere three weeks before leaving.

“They had had a lot of turnover when I came. People would come, stay a short time and then leave,” Stephenson recalled. “Mayor Mitch said to me, ‘Builders need to know what to expect. I need someone with a little gray hair who’s not going to use this job as a stepping stone.’”

Previously, Stephenson worked Washington State Department of Transportation and was retired. He was hired on in Poulsbo as a contractor so his retirement would not be affected.

Stephenson said some of his more memorable experiences in the city include things like the Finn Hill widening, Caldart Avenue stormwater project and the Lindvig Bridge, parts of an extensive list of projects that dated back to his start in Poulsbo.

“We’ve done a lot of projects, which is what Mayor Mitch wanted when he hired me,” Stephenson said. “And my staff is just terrific. It’s just the most terrific staff I could have asked for.”

Although specifics have not been discussed, Stephenson said he and the mayor intend to have his replacement hired before he leaves.

Bruce said, in fact, she hopes to avoid having to name an interim in any of the upcoming vacancies because she feels it places an undo burden on staff.

“I think we would do it in a timely manner,” Bruce said of hiring replacements. “There has to be a transition period of some time but, at this point, we haven’t set any definite dates.”By CARRINA STANTON

Staff Writer

POULSBO — Just one year after losing changing its chief planner, another department head in the city of Poulsbo will be on the way out.

And then another. And possibly another.

Planning Director Glenn Gross retired from the City of Poulsbo in June 2003. He was replaced recently by former senior planner Barry Berezowsky.

That changing of the guard will be followed by City Engineer John Stephenson’s retirement in June 2004 and Finance Director Donna Bjorkman has announced her intention to leave her position in November 2004.

Public Works Superintendent Bill Duffy is eligible for retirement in August 2004 but said has not decided whether he will be leaving at that time or not. He intends to make a decision by spring.

Next year is shaping up to be a year of transition for the city’s leadership, commented Mayor Donna Jean Bruce.

“It’ll be kind of different for us but I think it will be spread out enough that it’ll work,” Bruce said.

Stephenson’s contract with the City of Poulsbo was unanimously extended by six months at the Dec. 10 council meeting to allow him to retire in June 2004. After nearly nine years in Poulsbo, the 40-year engineer said he had many reasons for wanting to retire, including grandchildren, traveling and time off.

“A lot of little but good reasons,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson, 64, was hired under the term of Mayor Mitch Mitchusson during a time when city engineers were dropping like flies in Little Norway. The person who held the position directly before him had been there a mere three weeks before leaving.

“They had had a lot of turnover when I came. People would come, stay a short time and then leave,” Stephenson recalled. “Mayor Mitch said to me, ‘Builders need to know what to expect. I need someone with a little gray hair who’s not going to use this job as a stepping stone.’”

Previously, Stephenson worked Washington State Department of Transportation and was retired. He was hired on in Poulsbo as a contractor so his retirement would not be affected.

Stephenson said some of his more memorable experiences in the city include things like the Finn Hill widening, Caldart Avenue stormwater project and the Lindvig Bridge, parts of an extensive list of projects that dated back to his start in Poulsbo.

“We’ve done a lot of projects, which is what Mayor Mitch wanted when he hired me,” Stephenson said. “And my staff is just terrific. It’s just the most terrific staff I could have asked for.”

Although specifics have not been discussed, Stephenson said he and the mayor intend to have his replacement hired before he leaves.

Bruce said, in fact, she hopes to avoid having to name an interim in any of the upcoming vacancies because she feels it places an undo burden on staff.

“I think we would do it in a timely manner,” Bruce said of hiring replacements. “There has to be a transition period of some time but, at this point, we haven’t set any definite dates.”