Karla Bourassa
Photo credit: City of Chicopee
CHICOPEE — After first being appointed by Mayor John Vieau during a special City Council meeting on March 10, the City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Karla Bourassa as the next Chief Human Resources Officer during its March 31 meeting.
Before Vieau appointed Bourassa on March 10, resident Derek Dobosz used public comment on March 10 to express his concerns for the appointment.
Dobosz was a former Ward 6 city councilor and referred to an investigation and report given by retired Judge Mary-Lou Rup.
He said that the report recommended and stated that “neither the chief human resources officer nor the deputy chief human resource officer is capable of righting the sinking ship. This investigation makes clear there’s an urgent need to make significant changes to the human resources department.”
The investigation and recommendation made Dobosz question why Bourassa was appointed to be promoted “when the city’s own investigation recommends the opposite,” he said.
The position became vacant after Stephen Zajchowski, former chief of human resources who was hired in July 2023, was terminated in November 2024 as the result of two investigations conducted by Rup, who is now senior counsel for Buckley Richardson and Gelinas law firm.
After the dismissal, the City Council approved a mayor’s order for the appropriation of $100,000 to the human resources expense account for special services from available funds in the Human Resources Salary Account.
Chief of Staff Mike Pise read a statement from Vieau that said after the first investigation, a corrective action plan was prepared for the chief of human resources, but Pise read, “However within a matter of a few weeks, other serious issues developed which created a second investigation. The findings and recommendations of the second investigation necessitated a change in leadership.”
Vieau said he could not go into any further details due to fact they are personnel issues.
The reason for hiring a consultant is because the city has not been able to retain a human resources director for years with none staying more than 18 months and the city thought it was time to look within the department.
On March 10, Dobosz also stated problems with the Human Resources Department while he served in the city. There were insurance issues where some payments were made for deceased employees.
In 2023, after former Chief Human Resources Officer Paul Winspeare left after less than two years on the job, it was revealed that city had been paying health and dental premiums to former employees, retirees and their dependents after they had died or left the job. The problem has since been fixed.
Vieau responded to the complaints and explained, “We opened it up to the entire region, if not the country, looking for applications. We received quite a few, put a panel together and I will tell you that police chief, fire chief, the superintendent of DPW, myself and my chief of staff were on that interview panel.”
After narrowing it down to five applicants, the committee unanimously chose Bourassa, according to Vieau. He stated, “We felt that where our HR Department has been and what the direction we’re heading in, that Karla Bourassa is the right candidate for the job. She’s been doing a tremendous job. I can tell you that morale is very high and we’re very excited about moving that department forward, building the trust of not just the general public but our employees and I’m committed to supporting her like the rest of the departments are in her efforts to restore the integrity of our HR Department.”
Bourassa has been working with the city for three years in the Human Resources Department. She started off as a senior human resources generalist before being promoted to deputy chief and now chief human resources officer.
She acknowledged she has not been through two different administrations but has been referred to as the “glue of the department,” Bourassa said, “There were a couple investigations. They were not about me, and they were not about whether I am capable of running human resources.”
Bourassa has 12 years of municipal experience with a degree in human resources. She also said she has certifications and has taken leadership programs.
After being encouraged by many people in her department to apply for the job, she said, “Many of them were afraid I was going to leave and were ready to follow me and I did decide to take a leap of faith. I do believe I have what it takes to run this department, and I believe I have already proven myself to many people.”
A few city councilors expressed that they were concerned about approving the appointment without the whole City Council reading the report.
During the March 10 meeting, the City Council agreed to send the item to the human resources committee and host an executive session meeting with the City Council on March 31.
The City Council heard from more residents on March 31 before entering executive session where they interviewed Bourassa for nearly an hour.
When the City Council exited executive session, they unanimously approved Bourassa as the next chief human resources director and many expressed, she was the right person for the job to turn around the department.
Bourassa’s family was in attendance as well as other members from the HR Department to show their support and gave a standing ovation when the appointment was approved.
