Streets and san workers disciplined for South Side garbage problems

Clout St:

The latest black eye for the department’s employees follows a scathing report last fall issued by the inspector general who found garbage collection workers loafing for hours each day, taking long lunches at home, drinking beer from plastic cups and even urinating  in the street.

[Matt] Smith [spokesman for the Dept of Streets and Sanitation] said the internal findings, released Friday, were unrelated to the inspector general’s investigation. But given the recent loafing scandal, Smith said streets and sanitation workers should know “it’s time to step up to the plate and meet their responsibilities.”

The highest-ranking boss disciplined was Robert Wonsley, superintendent of the South Side district, Smith said. Wonsley, who makes about $99,000 a year, currently is serving a 10-day suspension. He could not be reached for comment.
...
Others punished were Michael Rourke, the $102,000-a-year 19th Ward superintendent, given a 29-day suspension; Michael Carroll, a $81,000-a-year 19th ward refuse collection coordinator, given a 10-day suspension; and Patric Barnes, the $73,000-a-year 17th Ward superintendent, given a written reprimand, according to Smith.

Three garbage truck drivers also face discipline. Smith said terms of the union contract prevent him from naming the drivers or their proposed disciplines until they get a personnel hearing.

Wonsley, Rourke and Barnes appear on a “clout list” released during the 2006 trial of Mayor Richard Daley’s former patronage chief. According to the list, 7th Ward Democrats sponsored Wonsley for a city job, while Rourke was tied to 19th Ward Democrats and Barnes to 17th Ward Democrats.

Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th) said her ward superintendent was “written up” for taking trucks to the dump before they were full. She said he did so because other wards needed the trucks.

“Streets and San hasn’t given me any information,” she said. “What I heard, most of the [problems] were in the 19th Ward. We don’t have time over here in the 17th Ward to loaf. They’re always working.”
...
Smith said the department evaluated operations in the 19th Ward because it has the most trucks in the South Side district and the 17th Ward because it was smaller but more densely populated. Internal investigators tracked workers, examined time sheets and evaluated whether trucks were going to the dump with less than a full load.