The lawsuit between the municipality of Tynaarlo and a suspended manager is hurting Mayor Marcel Thijsen of Tynaarlo. “It is clear to me that things have to be different.”
“As a citizen, it is painful when an employee says goodbye in this way,” says Mayor Marcel Thijsen. He was not surprised about the lawsuit at the subdistrict court in Assen last Tuesday. “We pushed for that ourselves. This conflict has been going on for six months and we have not been able to reach an agreement among ourselves. If such a case ends up in court, it is incredibly tragic. We did not take that step lightly. Whatever the outcome, there are only losers.”
Great dissatisfaction
According to Thijsen, there is a specific group of civil servants at the town hall who are currently unable to do their work optimally. “I’m not going to mention specific numbers, but it’s not more than twenty-five.” There is great dissatisfaction among these employees, he knows. “It is clear to me that the management of these people must be different. That structural change will happen whether we win or lose the lawsuit.”
According to Thijsen, the municipality of Tynaarlo has been modernizing for years. “We must become more open and more serviceable. You don’t go through that development in five or ten years. I think things are going very well under the leadership of our municipal secretary, but with change comes resistance. We must learn from this conflict.”
Hierarchical relationships
Municipal secretary Peter Koekoek wants to dismiss the employee because, according to him, she is not loyal and does not understand the hierarchical relationships within the municipality. She would also follow her own course too much. The case came before the judge on Tuesday afternoon in a packed courtroom, where many of the woman’s colleagues were also present.
The employee, who has only been at the town hall for nine months, does not agree with the allegations and wants to keep her job – in addition to rehabilitation. Both parties saw no point in further discussions after the hearing of more than two hours. The verdict is expected in mid-October.
Sacred separation
Koekoek informed the party leaders of the developments in a short letter on Wednesday afternoon. Officially, the councilors of Tynaarlo know nothing. “The separation between the political side of the municipality and the organization is sacred,” says PvdA leader Koos Dijkstra. “We are not talking about this, this is the business side of Tynaarlo. It can make you sad, and I am too, but I don’t know the nature of the conflict.”
Annemarie Machielsen from Leefbaar Tynaarlo reacts emotionally. “This group of civil servants is not concerned with arranging things for our residents, but takes after the boss.” She’s bummed like crazy. “We are all trying to build something. Peter [Koekoek, red.] has an eye for where we want to go as a politician. I’m very happy with that, that’s why it bothers me so much. This conflict is destroying a lot.”
Witch’s cauldron
There will be no questions in the municipal council for the time being. “We are not going to do anything with this now, but it is annoying,” says party leader Els Kardol of D66. “I also receive questions about this from the faction. I can say that we are concerned about this.” Her colleagues from GroenLinks, ChristenUnie and the VVD, among others, are also keeping a low profile.
Just like Machielsen and mayor Thijsen, Jacob van Gelder of Gemeentebelangen is pleased with Koekoek’s work. “A noble, understanding man. He does his best to reduce the distance between councilors and officials.” The fact that the case is now on the market keeps him busy, he sighs. “What a witch’s cauldron.”
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