Fairfield city administrator resigns

Fairfield City Administrator Jeff Clawson has submitted his resignation effective April 27.

Clawson has accepted a job in a similar-sized Illinois community in order to get back under the Illinois pension system. Changes in the Iowa Public Employees? Retirement System, requiring seven years of employment in Iowa to become vested, are the sole reason behind Clawson?s decision to return to Illinois at this time.

?I?ve never worked in a better community,? Clawson said. The mayor, city council, city staff and community have all been a pleasure with which to work, he said.

?If I had found Fairfield 20 years ago, this would have been my permanent home,? Clawson said.

After a 23-year career in Illinois, Clawson started in Fairfield June 28, 2010, with the intention of working in Iowa four or five years. At the time, IPERS only required four years to become vested.

Clawson explained he needs to work another seven years in Illinois to have 30 years under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system. He plans to retire before the 14 years it would take to meet Iowa?s and Illinois? years of service.

As opposed to Iowa where a city of around 10,000 generally forms the county seat, Illinois? cities are generally larger or smaller ? fewer are around the size Clawson finds ideal.

?So when I found this opportunity I had to pursue it because there are not that many,? he said.

Mayor Ed Malloy and the Fairfield City Council were notified Tuesday.

?I think it came as a surprise to a lot of us because Jeff had really committed himself fully to the job,? Malloy said. Clawson has diligently worked to re-organize city operations, build close relationships with department heads, motivate city employees and improve internal communications, he said.

?It?s a surprise someone that engaged is now leaving,? Malloy said. ?We wish we could have kept him longer. We?re saddened and sorry to see him go.?

Still, Malloy said he understands the professional reasons behind Clawson?s decision.

Clawson has been asked to initiate the search for his replacement. The council?s personnel committee will meet soon to determine how to proceed, though a final decision as to whether the hiring process will be handled in-house or by a search firm will be made by the full council.

Malloy?s goal is to have as little of a gap as possible between Clawson?s departure and the start of a new administrator.

Also in the meantime, Clawson will meet with council committees for final direction as to what they would like to see completed in the next two months.