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Maumee city administrator open to settlement

Jezak has been on paid leave since Jan. 7

MAUMEE (WTOL) - Maumee City Administrator John Jezak, who has been on paid administrative leave since Jan. 7, told 11 Investigates on Monday afternoon that he is willing to accept a settlement from the city to retire.

He was offered a separation agreement last week and has until later this week to accept it.

"Some people say it's not a bad thing to sit at home and get paid, but I need a purpose," Jezak said. "I don't see a clear path to coming back."

Council is expected to discuss the Jezak situation in executive session at Monday night's council meeting, though no final vote is expected.

Jezak has been blamed by Mayor Richard Carr as being the person behind an unfavorable investigation that was released late last year. That report was highly critical of Carr. The mayor, and others, say Jezak misled Squire Patton Boggs, the investigating law firm, by telling them that he had council’s authorization to begin the investigation in June. In fact, council did not vote for that authorization until August, though Jezak claims that, because Squire Patton Boggs was the city’s law firm, he could take concerns to them without a vote.

Carr was planning to seek council's permission to fire Jezak in early January, but he did not have the votes. In fact, council rejected the administration's attempts to investigate Jezak's actions, which has led to a unusual political standoff where the city administrator has been on paid leave, pending the results of an investigation that council refuses to authorize.

Last month, 11 Investigates reported that Maumee is paying Jezak $4,300 every two weeks to not come to work. And, at this point, Jezak said it might just be time for him and the city to move on.

"How long can this thing be in limbo? Everywhere I go, it's the same conversation. People have been great. They want to see me back at work," Jezak said. "At some point, though, I have to do something constructive. Every time I turn on the TV or pick up the paper, it's the same story. It's been taxing and tiring."

Jezak has been the administrator since 2000, and has had opportunities to leave. He appears resigned to the fact that the decision is being made for him.

“I’m 57. I feel really good,” Jezak said. “But you get to the point when you realize that you don’t have an unlimited amount of time left. I don’t do everything for money. This might be a possible way to resolve this.”

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