(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — City Administrator John Morrissey has announced his retirement, bringing to a close a lengthy career in public service that included serving as Kenosha’s chief of police, director of inspections, and, most recently, city administrator.
Mayor David Bogdala announced the retirement Wednesday, thanking Morrissey for his years of service and confirming that the City of Kenosha will immediately begin searching for its next city administrator.
“John has dedicated his career to serving the people of Kenosha,” Bogdala said in a statement. “On behalf of the City, I want to thank him for his years of service and wish him and his family a long, healthy and well-deserved retirement.”
Morrissey has held several prominent leadership positions with the city over the years. Before becoming city administrator, he served as Kenosha’s chief of police and later as the city’s director of inspections.
With Morrissey’s retirement, the City of Kenosha said it will immediately begin recruiting a new city administrator. Although the search will begin immediately, a city spokesman said Morrissey will remain in the position through Dec. 31, 2026, with his retirement taking effect at the end of the year..
“We are committed to conducting a thorough, transparent and professional search to identify the best candidate to support our operational strategy and continue providing exceptional service to the residents of Kenosha,” Bogdala said. According to the city, the recruitment process will include multiple stages intended to comprehensively evaluate applicants. Additional details regarding the timeline, qualifications, and application process are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The City of Kenosha concluded its announcement by thanking Morrissey for his many years of public service and wishing him well in retirement.
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20 Responses
Either eliminate this position because isn’t it what Mayor’s are supposed to do ??
Or better yet, eliminate the Mayors office as he just stands around doing nothing when his influence and presence matters ans important timely situations arise.
The multiple incidents in White Caps come to mind. The house that burnt down then became a smelly eyesore for many many months. The sewer issues there too.
Then the single broken elevator in the old people’s home.
Come to think about it, weren’t all these issues the responsibility of the outgoing administrator ?
If the mayor isn’t going to show up at these locations and the administrator isn’t going to get these taken care of promptly then maybe the search committee needs to rewrite the job description and start from square one.
Because neither position, Mayor or Administrator have lived up to their responsibilities in recent times
Good riddance!
Morrissey is a con man. For decades he conned the city with his fake degree. Think about the tens of thousands of dollars extra the city paid him in educational incentive pay for all the years he was a police officer. It is disgraceful that the Mayor and City Council did nothing about it after his con was exposed. He epitomizes the incestuous corruption that permeates local Kenosha Government. True to form, he stayed around long enough to make sure his children were set up with cushy city jobs.
https://kenoshacountyeye.com/2022/06/30/retired-fbi-special-agent-questions-kenosha-city-administrators-college-degree/
Here we go with woulda, shoulda and coulda responses…
I’ll get the popcorn.
A city that works. That is what i have learned about kenosha since i moved here 40 years ago. The police respond quickly and with multiple squad. City inspectors hit problem houses in a few days of a complaint. The city parks are a tremendous asset and always mowed in a timely manner. Just a beautiful city that works with resources that get stretched every year
Welcome to the world of politics. Cant please everyone is the motto. Someone wont like something and someone will love it.
Pass the popcorn!
Just looking for competence.
While the Administrator isn’t a front line boss he or she is responsible for every other employee that is !
If the jobs don’t get done, typically a department will say it’s not their job. Then the next department doesn’t do it because they say they weren’t informed. That they need to get authorization.
From who ?
Nobody takes responsibility because so many departments have just one function.
The administrator is the point person to oversee everything and make sure everyone it pulling in the same direction. The administrator is supposed to lead from the front not the rear. Make sure each department talks to the others.
When the elevator stopped working did the city respond with a solution or just an order for someone else to fix the problem ?
Sure the city doesn’t own that building but once the elevator stopped functioning for the umpteenth time they should have made provisions to serve and protect the taxpayer citizens. It did not !!
Leaders are there to respond and lead everyone under their command. Be able to clear obstacles. Get things done when others fail.
This city has failed many times.
It’s those failures that people remember.
And it’s those failures that cost the common folks time, money and distress.
Welcome to Unions and how they “work”
A city that works. That is what i have learned about kenosha since i moved here 40 years ago. The police respond quickly and with multiple squad. City inspectors hit problem houses in a few days of a complaint. The city parks are a tremendous asset and always mowed in a timely manner. Just a beautiful city that works with resources that get stretched every year
New candidate must have a fake degree and connections
Make sure next guy has a fake degree also
What a phony he is fake and doesn’t even care!
Do a search for: DEI Bingo Card
Word out there that it is going to be offered to Alderman Dan Prozanski. I hope the Mayor keeps his word and hires the most competent candidate and stays away from cronyism.
Prozanski was responsible for the loss of a $10+ million federal street grant.
One weeks salary for the UNION road crew…
Hope not, this guy is a tool! Was a neighbor, never said hello to me until election time.
I worked at a huge corporation with many people that have major degrees hanging on the wall. They were not very good at running the departments.
Getting a degree is a great accomplishment that requires alot of work. But when you lack common sense, it makes the degree on the wall no different than hanging Charmin in a frame.
The next candidate, be it Prozanski or whomever will bring “issues” of some sort with someone.
And there you have it!
Prozanski is a “tool” for not saying hello. Didn’t take long at all!
Might as well make “Pickleball Joey” as his replacement.
Who is going to keep the mayor in line?