Huntingburg’s safety risk management director made his resignation public during Thursday’s regular meeting of the board of public works and safety.
James Hopf was hired last September to replace Travis Gentry who had taken on the responsibilities after the city’s first safety director, Don Foerster, retired in 2019.
Hopf announced his resignation saying that he felt he had worked in a hostile work environment while trying to fulfill his duties. Hopf informed the board that he had been required to submit a weekly log to the mayor of his activities. This log was to include hourly details of his activities.
“To my understanding, other superintendents aren’t being asked to do the things I’m being asked and being watched the way I am being watched,” Hopf told the board.
“I feel I am being mistreated … and also working in somewhat of a hostile work environment.”
Hopf also said he has been yelled at on occasion and been told that he doesn’t need to be on worksites because he was a distraction.
“I feel like all I do is walk on eggshells in fear of doing something wrong, or saying something that might get backlash from either the office manager or the mayor, in my opinion,” he said.
Hopf emphasized the importance of a safety chief that is supported and endorsed by all the city leaders. “Not one that is yelled at, belittled and cussed at,” he stated before telling the board he was resigning.
Hopf said that he resigned after stating that he wanted to make a positive difference and get involved in the community. The 31-year-old is running for Patoka Township Board in November’s Midterm election.
He told the board the city is suffering from the effects of a “good-old boy system”. He said that the board, council and city leadership must do better.
“You guys on this board and the council that represents Huntingburg, Indiana, has [sic] got to do better,” he said. “We have got to hold people accountable period, hands down, or we are going to fail Huntingburg.”
The board did not comment on the resignation or Hopf’s assertions.
“There was some differences of opinion about how he was supposed to do his job,” Mayor Steve Schwinghamer said in a separate interview. “My thought is that he wanted to vet some things. That’s fine, but it probably wasn’t the proper place to do that.”
The mayor said he wouldn’t comment on Hopf’s statements adding that it wasn’t all truth. “It was a public meeting and some things that are in-house should be kept in-house until all the facts are known,” he said. “But, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
Hopf also stated that he was informed by the city that the safety position was being reduced from full-time to partial-time.
“I was approached by the mayor a few weeks ago and told that my position is under consideration of becoming part-time,” Hopf read to the board. “In my opinion, the safety department is headed in a dangerous direction.”
Mayor Schwinghamer confirmed that they were looking into this option. He explained that the office had been moved to full time while Don Foerster was director.
“But in looking at the position and the amount of time and hours that were spent doing that particular job, it was definitely not 40 hours,” Schwinghamer said.
“This was discussed to see if it was something that was feasible to do,” he added stating that the discussion was blown out of proportion.
After the meeting, Hopf stated he didn’t feel he could accomplish his duties appropriately under the work environment and requirements he was being tasked with. Hopf said that Wednesday morning’s argument with the mayor was the last straw, and that he was told to stop complaining and grow up.
