The Travails Of Deputy Commissioner of Department of Public Works Joe O’Neill III

In a previous post, I wrote that Joe O’Neill, the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, had resigned.

At the October 15, 2024, council meeting, O’Neill was seated with the other deputies. Dillon Moran made a show of his presence, telling those present that a certain blogger had misreported O’Neill’s resignation.

Moran apparently was unaware of O’Neill’s situation.

O’Neill had been in a civil service position when he became deputy commissioner of public works. To protect himself if a different commissioner did not want him as deputy, he worked out a deal by returning to his civil service job at intervals; if a new commissioner didn’t want him as deputy, he could return to his civil service job.

Things Did Not Work Out

Following the allegations of abuse at public works and the police investigation, O’Neill attempted to resign as deputy and return to his civil service job. The city’s HR (human resources) advised him and confirmed by civil service that he was no longer eligible to return to his previous civil service position.

O’Neill gave up on the change and returned to deputy.