Hubbard commission reduces action against chief to letter of reprimand

The police chief will have the letter in his file for a year.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The Hubbard Civil Service Commission has reduced the disciplinary action taken against Police Chief Marty Kanetsky.
Mayor Arthur U. Magee suspended Kanetsky for three days without pay earlier this month for insubordination.
Kanetsky appealed the suspension to the commission, which reduced the suspension to a letter of reprimand that will remain in his personnel file for a year.
Magee said Wednesday that the commission's decision was a compromise to keep the chief from losing money.
The mayor noted that he hopes the issue is resolved.
Kanetsky could not be reached to comment.
The suspension, Magee had said, stemmed from a "shouting match" between Kanetsky and Safety Director William Jugenheimer.
Magee alleged that Jugenheimer had commented to Law Director Gary Gilmartin that Kanetsky wasn't doing his job. The chief overheard the comment.
Kanetsky, the mayor said, called the 75-year-old Jugenheimer "pathetic."
Kanetsky admitted he made the comment, but said it was only after Jugenheimer and Magee refused to meet with him.
Mayor cites attitude
The mayor has maintained that Kanetsky has had a "negative attitude" toward his administration and that the chief believes he's not on call for duty round-the-clock like other department heads.
Magee said the issue became a problem when Kanetsky was paid for traffic control by contractors working on the downtown sidewalk and resurfacing projects.
Both Magee and Kanetsky agree that the mayor and Jugenheimer initially agreed to allow the chief to work the side job, but they later questioned it.
Magee and Jugenheimer maintain that the chief is a supervisor working for the city and is always on duty.
Kanetsky has argued that he should be able to work side jobs because it doesn't matter when he performs his duties as chief.
yovich@vindy.com