HOLYOKE — City Auditor Tanya Wdowiak announced that she is resigning from her current position to take another opportunity nearby.
Wdowiak told Reminder Publishing that she received a job offer as a comptroller in a neighboring community.
“This is an opportunity that I feel will strengthen my municipal finance knowledge and is optimum for my career growth as an individual,” she said. “Just a girl looking for fulfillment and change of pace.”
Wdowiak has been the auditor for the city of Holyoke for seven years. She explained that this move has nothing to do with the city’s recent financial struggles that Mayor Joshua Garcia discussed on Oct. 29, which included a temporary suspension of local aid due to Holyoke failing to balance its books and submit reports.
“The treasurer’s office is where the financial difficulty lies for the city,” Wdowiak said. “There is a strict separation of duties from this issue and the auditor’s office. Definitely not the reason for my accepting another position. “
Wdowiak emailed her letter of resignation to Garcia and City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti on Oct 30.
The resignation will be effective Nov. 28, but Wdowiak said she has a “wonderful” employee in her office ready to take over. She said that the new candidate is educated, qualified, trained and “one of the best accountants I have ever worked with.”
She expressed in her resignation letter that she is leaving the auditor’s office feeling confident of the team that she has created and assured the city that the employees are the most trained, dedicated and resourceful “you will meet.”
“I’m hoping that she will be my replacement, even if it is only in the interim, as she will be a great fit and can hit the ground running,” she stated, of the new candidate.
In her resignation letter, she also expressed her gratitude for the city, saying, “I want to say how grateful I am to have had this opportunity to work for the city of Holyoke and for all the wonderful people I have worked with over the years. It is a special place, and a piece of my heart will always be working for the city.”
Garcia talked with Reminder Publishing about losing a city employee and the timeline for replacing Wdowiak.
“Employee retention is a challenge local governments face every day. We are constantly competing for a limited pool of talent,” Garcia said. “It’s always a bummer when we lose an employee to other communities, but also at the same I’m always happy for employees personally who find new opportunities that benefit them.”
In terms of replacing Wdowiak’s position, Garcia said the city has already appointed an interim auditor.
The City Council is responsible for the appointment of a permanent auditor, according to Garcia.
Garcia explained, “The timeline is as quick as they move and are able to land qualified and capable candidates. In my opinion, the appointed interim is qualified and capable. Our offices look forward to working with the City Council to help shepherd the process along.”
