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Stratford infrastructure boss announces upcoming retirement

Stratford director of infrastructure and development services Ed Dujlovic has announced he will retire effective March 31, 2021.

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The man who oversaw the redevelopment of Stratford’s Market Square, upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant and the launch of the city’s organics collection program, among other major infrastructure projects, has announced he will retire next spring.

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At the end of Monday’s city council meeting, infrastructure director Ed Dujlovic officially announced he will be making his departure from the role he has held for the past seven years.

“I hit the 30-year mark back in August and, with (the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), you can retire with 30 years of service when you’re 55,” Dujlovic told the Beacon Herald Wednesday afternoon. “It was in the back of my mind a couple years ago and I didn’t think much of it. I’ve talked it over with my wife, and one of the driving issues is I’ve been here in Stratford during the week and at home with my wife in St. Catharines on weekends, so I’ve been splitting my time.”

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Dujlovic noted his decision to retire came amid a number of other retirements and departures in his department, including development services manager Jeff Leunissen, who quietly retired in July, as well as the departures of a two city engineers and the upcoming retirement of his administrative assistant.

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“So there are some challenges that I am concerned about in trying to fill some of those positions as we see some of these retirements taking place,” Dujlovic said. “There’s a good core staff, but we need to get some more people in because there’s a lot of work to be done in the future – a lot of things that council still has on their list of projects they’d like to see completed.”

But Dujlovic knows the work of a public servant is never done, and there are always new projects and ongoing initiatives that must be left to others when it comes time to retire.

“Ed has been with the city since 2013 and has been involved in a number of projects, such as improvements to the Water Pollution Control Plant, organic waste collection, and a number of important sewer and road projects within the city, and he’s been a valued member of our corporate leadership team.  … On behalf of council and all of staff and the citizens of our community, we’d like to congratulate you and wish you all the best as you head into retirement. Thank you so much for all the leadership you’ve provided,” Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson said during Monday’s meeting.

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Prior to being hired by the City of Stratford, Dujlovic served for 20 years with the City of Niagara Falls and, before that, worked as a consultant in the private sector before opting to move into the public sphere.

But whether Dujlovic was working in the private or public sectors, he said the key to his success and the success of his departments and companies has been ensuring the people he serves understands the work he and his colleagues do, no matter how complicated that work might be.

“As an engineer, you’re taught it’s all about logic and the numbers. What I’ve learned when you’re a public servant like I am, it’s not about the good engineering design all the time. It’s about the public. Is what we’re doing beneficial to the public and can they see that? Whether it’s a design, whether it’s a policy or whatever we do, how are we benefiting the public?” Dujlovic said.

“And that’s what people need to understand. People maybe don’t like the term public servant, but we serve the public. Sometimes the public doesn’t always agree with your answers, but at the end of the day you serve the public, whether that’s directly or through council or through your staff. That’s what we’re here for.”

Dujlovic is set to officially retire from the city on March 31, 2021, however he said he will have several weeks of vacation to use prior to that date and will likely leave his post at some point in February.

gsimmons@postmedia.com

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