{"id":75310,"date":"2026-05-19T16:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=75310"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:26:16","slug":"batavia-city-dpw-director-placed-on-administrative-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/batavia-city-dpw-director-placed-on-administrative-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"BATAVIA\/City DPW director placed on administrative leave"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

File photo-Tom Phelps-November 9, 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom Phelps, the Department of Public Works director for the City of Batavia, apparently has been placed on administrative leave but he\u2019s staying silent about it \u2013 at least for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t make a comment until the investigation is concluded,\u201d Phelps said when reached by telephone on Tuesday afternoon. \u201cI really am unsure what this is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went on to say that this is happening while he is on vacation this week from his job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video News Service also reached out to City Council President Eugene Jankowski and City Manager Rachael Tabelski on Tuesday afternoon for comment \u2013 with Jankowski saying, \u201cThe City can\u2019t comment on personnel matters due to privacy concerns and they\u2019re looking into it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabelski has yet to respond to an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Reached by telephone after that, Councilman-at-Large Nicholas Lord said that he was notified by management via email on Sunday that Phelps, a city employee for seven years who was promoted to the DPW head in October 2024, had been placed on administrative leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had heard this from members of the community on Friday, I inquired about it on Saturday and officially heard it from city management on Sunday,\u201d said Lord, R-C, who was elected to the governing body last November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(File photo)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lord said he did not know who is taking Phelps place in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve asked, but no detail has been provided,\u201d he said, adding that he has voiced his displeasure about not receiving information in a timely manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tough go, but that\u2019s OK,\u201d he said. \u201cI got elected for the people and I’m trying to do my best to represent people. I\u2019ve been on political boards before, the Hamburg Development Corporation when I lived out that way, and the City Council slash City Hall is one of the most emotional groups that I\u2019ve ever worked with on a board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, I wasn\u2019t super prepared for that, but there’s definitely a lot of emotion in the decision-making, which, like I said, I’m not accustomed to. So, it’s a learning curve for me. But I’m doing my thing and representing the folks that elected me and doing what I think is right at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, 30, is employed as director of facilities for Mount St. Mary\u2019s Hospital in Lewiston and Lockport Memorial Hospital. He said he had applied for the DPW director position two years ago<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI interviewed when they were interviewing for his position and they also were interviewing for a director of HR (Human Resources),\u201d who had given up a multi-year career with Wyoming County to come to the city and since has left. Now, Tom is on administrative leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don’t know if the issue is City Hall, but I’d like to see some type of third-party assessment of what’s going on there as far as the turnover goes and that\u2019s on the record if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City Council\u2019s next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on May 26 at City Hall Council Chambers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

File photo-Tom Phelps-November 9, 2024 By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service Tom Phelps, the Department of Public Works director for the City of Batavia, apparently has been placed on administrative leave but he\u2019s staying silent about it \u2013 at least for now. \u201cI can\u2019t make a comment until the investigation \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":75312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4705],"tags":[5816,4652],"class_list":["post-75310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-of-batavia","tag-city-dpw","tag-tom-phelps"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-jAG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":76646,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/04\/batavia-phelps-speaks-out-on-situation-with-city-of-batavia\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":0},"title":"BATAVIA\/Phelps speaks out on situation with City of Batavia","author":"aka","date":"July 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"File photo-Tom Phelps-November 9, 2024 BY MIKE PETTINELLAFor Video News Service The former Department of Public Works director for the City of Batavia is hoping to be heard by City Council in an effort to get his job back. \u201cI am asking for that opportunity so I can defend my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "City of Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"City of Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/city-of-batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/snapshot_001-8.webp?fit=1024%2C715&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/snapshot_001-8.webp?fit=1024%2C715&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/snapshot_001-8.webp?fit=1024%2C715&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/snapshot_001-8.webp?fit=1024%2C715&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57778,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/10\/09\/batavia-city-of-batavia-appoints-tom-phelps-as-director-of-public-works\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":1},"title":"BATAVIA\/City of Batavia appoints Tom Phelps as Director of Public Works","author":"aka","date":"October 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release BATAVIA, NY \u2013 City of Batavia Manager Racheal Tabelski announces the appointment of Tom Phelps, to the position of Director of Public Works for the City of Batavia.\u00a0 Phelps was selected following an extensive search for candidates. Phelps has served the City of Batavia since 2019 in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58829,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/11\/09\/genesee-county-city-of-batavia-howard-street-buildings-go-up-quickly-in-saturday-morning-3-alarm-blaze\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/City of Batavia\/Howard Street buildings go up quickly in Saturday morning 3 alarm blaze","author":"aka","date":"November 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SjHNx-3y760 Video story-City of Batavia Fire Chief Joshua Graham, City Manager Rachael J. Tabelski and Director of Public Works, Tom Phelps update on the Saturday morning fire on Howard Street that was called in to 911 dispatchers about 7:47am. Submitted photo Chris Parker Submitted photo Tarez Lee Odom","rel":"","context":"In "City of Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"City of Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/city-of-batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2432-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2432-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2432-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2432-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_2432-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C667&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1145,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2017\/05\/06\/genesee-and-orleans-countiessaying-goodbye-to-a-man-who-lived-his-dreams\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE AND ORLEANS COUNTIES\/Saying goodbye to a man who lived his dreams","author":"aka","date":"May 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Saturday morning the United States Army Veteran, retired City of Batavia Fireman, 50 year Volunteer Fireman, creator of a fire and burn prevention program, volunteer youth counselor and founder of the Medina Railroad Museum was remembered by family, friends and the community during a funeral mass of Christian Burial at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Phelp-procession.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Phelp-procession.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Phelp-procession.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Phelp-procession.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Phelp-procession.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":68581,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/30\/genesee-county-city-of-batavia-announces-annual-fall-leaf-collection-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/City of Batavia announces annual Fall Leaf Collection Program","author":"aka","date":"September 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release The\u00a0City of Batavia Department of Public Works is pleased to announce the start of the annual Fall Leaf Collection Program in the coming weeks. As the season changes and leaves begin to fall, residents are reminded of the proper placement requirements to help ensure safe, efficient, and effective\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "City of Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"City of Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/city-of-batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail_image003.jpg?fit=537%2C248&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail_image003.jpg?fit=537%2C248&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thumbnail_image003.jpg?fit=537%2C248&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59750,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/12\/10\/batavia-superintendent-of-water-and-wastewater-to-join-city-of-batavia\/","url_meta":{"origin":75310,"position":5},"title":"BATAVIA\/Superintendent of Water and Wastewater to join City of Batavia","author":"aka","date":"December 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Batavia, NY- The City of Batavia is pleased to announce the appointment of Bailey Groth to the position of Superintendent of Water and Wastewater for the City of Batavia. Groth was selected following an extensive search for candidates. She will assume her new role on December 18, 2024.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "City of Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"City of Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/city-of-batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/IMG_0284-scaled.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/snapshot_001-8.jpg?fit=1547%2C1080&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75310"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75316,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75310\/revisions\/75316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}