The city has declined to discuss any details about why Aaron Sorrell and Shannon Hughes were put on leave. City officials said they both voluntarily resigned. We are working to find out more about these departures and will provide updates as we obtain more information. Multiple calls, emails and other requests for comment to Sorrell were not returned, and we could not reach Hughes.
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Here’s some things we know about Sorrell:
1. HISTORY: Sorrell, 42, a Dayton resident, has worked for the city since 2000, when he was hired as a community development specialist, according to his LinkedIn page and newspaper articles. He was promoted to a senior specialist a year later, and held that position until 2006, when he became the acting manager of housing and neighborhood development. He took over the position permanently and became the director of planning and community development in 2011. According to personnel documents, Sorrell earned about $56.37 per hour, or $117,250 a year.
2. RESPONSIBILITIES: Sorrell's general fund department budget was a little more than $3 million for 2017. The department is in charge of housing, community development and historic preservation programs, as well as developing and administering urban design, subdivision and zoning code standards, regulations and plans. The department also coordinates the administration of a variety of programs that receive millions of dollars in state and federal dollars, such as neighborhood demolition programs.
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3. PERSONNEL FILE: On March 15, Sorrell received a "proficient" performance rating from Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein, according to a memo from Dickstein to the director of human resources. Dickstein recommended he be given a one-step increase, which bumped up his annual salary by more than $2,300, according to records contained in his personnel file. On his self-evaulation dated Jan. 6, Sorrell listed some of his accomplishments as obtaining an important federal housing planning grant, removing the deed restrictions from the former Schwind apartments property and providing leadership and direction to the city's main residential demolition program.
In recent years, Sorrell helped update the city’s zoning code, enhanced and grew programs intended to combat foreclosures, expanded the city’s mini-grant initiatives and developed a vacant property registration program, according to past evaluations. Sorrell said under his leadership his department helped increase volunteerism in neighborhoods, completed a thoroughfare plan and built a strong culture of customer service.
According to his personnel file, in February 2014, Sorrell was officially reprimanded for an incident that occurred two years before in which he allegedly signed off on grant payment without verifying that it was properly submitted or related to a particular contract.
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