Warren town manager’s future uncertain

The Warren Town Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening, Dec. 20, to discuss the future of Warren Town Manager Jan Reitsma’s employment with the town.
Mr. Reitsma, who was hired by the town in the Spring of 2016, was not available for comment Friday. But Warren Town Council president Joseph DePasquale said Friday night that he met with Mr. Reitsma earlier that day to discuss his employment status, which has been under review by the council for three months. Mr. DePasquale would not comment on what transpired at the meeting, but said the council will meet Wednesday in closed session to discuss the next step.
“Ordinarily, the (manager’s yearly) review starts and finishes in one month. The process hasn’t played itself out as smoothly on both sides as it could,” Mr. Depasquale said.
Mr. Reitsma, a former Barrington resident who moved to Warren about four years ago, is the former head of the state Department of Environmental Management. Warren Town Council member Chris Stanley has been critical of his management style over the past year, saying communication between Mr. Reitsma and the council, and several departments within the town, has not been ideal. And earlier this year, the union that represents town hall and DPW employees, voted no confidence in Mr. Reitsma.