GLENDALE : City Selects New Public Service Chief
City officials Wednesday announced the appointment of Bernie Palk, a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, as Glendale’s public service director.
A 54-year-old assistant chief engineer, Palk currently manages 1,600 DWP employees. In his new job, Palk succeeds Mike Hopkins, who retired last month. Palk takes over June 6.
City Manager David Ramsay said Palk’s management experience will help the city raise employee morale.
A study by Woodland Hills-based consultants The Warner Group released earlier this month reported morale was low among city employees who faced heavy workloads and unrealistic expectations.
Mayor Eileen Givens called Palk “a visionary leader and a good team player--along with being a good engineer.”
Palk promised to include employees at all levels in decisions made by the public service department. He said he will also ask employees to participate in implementing department policies.
The new public service director, who lives in Seal Beach, was chosen from among 80 applicants from around the nation.
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