NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Earlier this year, the City of North Las Vegas announced the departure of their utilities director. After nearly 10 years on the job, David Bereskin left for a position on the other side of the country. But instead of resigning his post, Bereskin is still on the payroll.
Bereskin left the city to manage the water system in Greenville, South Carolina. Instead of submitting his resignation, he continues to serve, at least on paper, as the city's utilities director.
He is one guy with two jobs, collecting two paychecks, while hundreds of former North Las Vegas workers are collecting unemployment.
Read the agreement with David Bereskin
Rick Lochner is one of those former employees. Instead of making repairs for one of the country's fastest growing cities, he spends a Tuesday afternoon scraping another project off his honey-do list.
The city laid off Lochner after nine years and six months of service -- just shy of the 10 year mark that would have made him eligible to cash-out $22,000 worth of accrued sick leave.
Though Lochner shares virtually the same longevity with Bereskin, he did not receive the same separation package. With nine years, nine months on the job, Bereskin will get his accrued sick leave at a cost to the city in salary and benefits of more than $80,000.
Steve Harney is with Teamsters Local 14, the union that represents North Las Vegas city employees.
"All these people did not have the same benefit or privilege or treatment that David's getting and that's just not right. What's fair for one is fair for all," he said.
According to records, Bereskin left the city earlier this year for a new job as the CEO of the water system in Greenville, SC. Meeting minutes from a January 18 gathering put Bereskin in Greenville with his employment established the same day. Yet back in North Las Vegas, on paper at least, Bereskin remains the utilities director, on annual leave until he reaches his 10 year mark at the beginning of May.
"Let's get real, if he's doing one job and he's spending time doing this job, he's not doing either job 100 percent, is he? That's the problem," said Harney.
Bereskin's agreement with the city hinges on his availability to provide "expertise" via phone, email and in person if necessary about the water reclamation facility, a $250 million project scheduled to open this summer.
In Bereskin's absence, Reed Scheppmann is the acting utilities director. Their combined salaries for the same position total more than $300,000.
"I think it's very good insurance for the city. If it induces him and provides the assurance that he would be available, it's like an ounce of prevention could be worth a pound of cure," said Scheppmann.
The facility that's not without controversy. Initial plans to discharge the city's treated wastewater through a regional pipeline dissolved last year and current negotiations with Clark County to use an open flood channel remain tenuous.
"They've got a water treatment plant that they can't use, but yet they're relying on the guy that's created all this. I've got a problem with that and I think the taxpayers should have a problem," said Harney.
For his part, after more than eight months without a paycheck Lochner just wants to return to work, even if the city values his service less than someone else's.
"It's very discouraging how the city seems to be handling it. I'm just very disappointed," he said.
After first agreeing to an interview with 8 News NOW, last week City Manager Mary Ann Ustick changed her mind. Ustick signed the deal with Bereskin. 8 News NOW is scheduled to meet with City Councilwoman Anita Wood to get her perspective on the arrangement and we will have that for you in the near future.
Bereskin did not return our phone calls seeking comment.
David Bereskin
