By Ryan squanda
rsquanda@statenews.com
According to several reports, the Lansing Board of Water and Light fired General Manager J. Peter Lark on Tuesday for “just cause” on the grounds that Lark has failed to fulfill the requirements of his job. According to Lark’s contract, “just cause” is synonymous with “employee misconduct.”
The decision on Tuesday came at a special meeting and according to a report by the Lansing State Journal, the vote of the board was 5-3 in favor of Lark’s termination — the very same board which had previously voted 7-1 to reappoint Lark’s contract for an eighth year through 2018 just six months prior.
The decision to suddenly oust Lark likely stems from his performance as general manager of the BWL when thousands of customers lost power following the ice storms in Lansing in December 2013. As for why the decision is coming now and not then, according to a report in the Lansing State Journal, BWL Commissioner Dennis Louney and other board members had lost faith in Lark, arguing his management style since the storm in December 2013 has not changed.
According to the same report, by firing Lark for just cause, the BWL can save nearly $800,000. If the decision holds, the BWL will owe Lark just six months pay, or $129,251, rather than the five years of his contract, which would be about $900,000.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero thanked BWL commissioners for their work in “making this very serious decision.”
“I believe this episode has exposed serious structural and institutional deficiencies, which led to an overly generous contract that could result in a significant severance payment,” he said. “This must be fixed going forward.”
The statement went on to mention possible future changes to the Lansing City Charter to “address shortcomings of the current system.”
“I do wish Mr. Lark the best in his future endeavors and appreciate much of the work he did while leading the BWL, but it is now time to move the BWL forward into the future,” Bernero said.
In the meantime, Dick Peffley, a 38-year veteran of BWL, was named as interim general manager by the BWL Board of Commissioners. Peffley previously served as interim general manager in 2006.
