Springfield Building Development Services director vacates role

SBJ file

Dwayne Shmel led BDS for just over a year.

The city of Springfield's Building Development Services department director quietly exited his employment with the municipality.

Melissa Haase, assistant director of public information and civic engagement for the city, said Dwayne Shmel resigned Feb. 22. Springfield Business Journal learned of Shmel's exit through resident Linda Simkins' community watchdog Facebook group.

"Deputy City Manager Maurice Jones is overseeing the department while the city considers next steps," Haase said via email, noting an interim director would be named as the local government works on the recruitment process for a permanent replacement.

Haase declined to disclose further details, citing a city policy to "not comment on reasons for resignations."

Attempts to reach Shmel were unsuccessful by deadline.

He became the city's BDS director in January 2021, according to past reporting. Harlan Hill held the BDS role for two years before Shmel. After Hill left for another job, the department had an interim leader for about a year.

Shmel joined the city from Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), for which he was senior manager of architecture and design.

Last month, Shmel addressed Springfield City Council on the BDS department's plans to strengthen policies addressing blighted and nuisance properties this year.

“Word is getting out," he told council. “If you don’t clean it up, I will. You’re going to pay for it either way.”

Shmel said the city received 570 service requests regarding blighted buildings in 2020 and 536 in 2021. Of these, 35% turned out to fit the city’s definition of blight in 2020, but 71% were found to meet the blight definition in 2021, according to past reporting.