Hayes retires from city of Austin

Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales has announced the retirement of Human Resources Director Joya Hayes, who has been on administrative leave since December. His memo, which praises Hayes for 18 years of city service, says Hayes is retiring effective July 29, three months from now. However, the memo also says that Rebecca Kennedy will continue serving as interim Human Resources director. Hayes held that job for seven years and received a number of awards for “innovative public sector programs and health and wellness and reentry initiatives to support employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals,” according to Gonzales. In addition to her accolades, Hayes was also the subject of an ethics complaint by a city employee who was asked to provide child care for Hayes’ child. However, the city’s Ethics Review Commission dismissed the complaint. After that, City Council directed the city manager to consider ethics complaints against employees rather than sending such complaints to the commission. Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Alison Alter instigated that change.