Posted on 03/22/23
| News Source: FOX45
After originally announcing an April resignation, the director of Baltimore's Department of Public Works DPW, Jason Mitchell, is delaying his resignation.
On Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Scott's Office said Mitchell will now remain at DPW through June 30th to help complete ongoing projects.
A statement from the Mayor's Office said Mitchell will "focus on important initiatives such as managing the Baltimore City consent decree negotiations, developing a comprehensive solid waste management strategy, and supporting the agency during the search for a new director."
"Mayor Scott acknowledges Director Mitchell's positive impact on DPW and looks forward to continuing to work with him to improve service delivery for Baltimore's residents," the statement continued.
In January, Mitchell announced his plans to resign at the end of April after facing pressure over an E.coli contamination, water billing issues, and a failure to return to regular recycling pickup. The resignation announcement drew mixed reactions from city leaders, with some pleading for Mitchell to stay while others were actively pushing for him to leave.
"I just want to take a moment to thank Jason Mitchell for serving the citizens of Baltimore," said Councilman James Torrence.
"For me, it's always about that which is in the best interests of the citizens of Baltimore and so, it's not about any individual in any position, it's really just about providing the services," said Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer.
When questioned in January if Mayor Scott requested his resignation, Mitchell told FOX45 News, "I've got some serious health issues with someone in my family that I need to attend to. They are life and death and I think that's the gist of it."
An audio recording where he described how he felt after putting in his resignation letter shows he may have had other motives for quitting.
"I’ve never woken up with such, over the last 18 months, with such a sigh of relief. That is what my conscious told me I needed. This agency, this city, began to compromise who I was as a man and as a professional," Mitchell said in the recording. "I woke up today and felt free. I don't feel oppressed any longer. I don't feel enslaved."