Suffolk News-Herald

A key member of the city’s Neighborhood Development Services Department abruptly left his job earlier this month.

Assistant City Manager Cindy Rohlf on Thursday confirmed that Jeffrey Van Hosen, who headed the department’s property maintenance/zoning enforcement division, has not been on the city’s payroll since Oct. 1.

That division of NDS is responsible for enforcing regulations involving the housing code, such as grass and weeds, trash and debris, inoperable vehicles, and unsafe structures.

Rohlf would not say whether Van Hosen was fired or quit. She refused to answer any questions surrounding his departure, citing it as a personnel issue.

She also refused to say whether Van Hosen was on paid administrative leave prior to his leaving.

News of Van Hosen’s departure comes days after Rohlf confirmed reports that several employees in the city’s public utilities department were put on paid leave last week. She would not say if Van Hosen’s unplanned departure had any connection to the city’s public utilities investigation.

David Freeman, director of NDS, referred all questions to Rohlf.