Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Dygert ascended the ranks within the Auburn Fire Department and was appointed fire chief in 2011.

Five years later, Dygert went to Memorial City Hall for meetings and then-City Manager Doug Selby informed him that he was leaving the post. Selby also revealed that he would recommend Dygert to serve as interim city manager.

Still, it was not Dygert's goal to be the long-term answer as city manager. He would do both jobs — he remained fire chief while handling the city manager duties — until the Auburn City Council selected Selby's successor.

"At that point, that was kind of an easy decision for me," Dygert recalled in an interview with Â鶹ÊÓƵ. "I didn't think there was any permanency to it. It seemed like this was an interesting opportunity to help bridge a gap, get us through a tight situation and just kind of deal with a few things for a short period of time.

Nine years later, Dygert will end his tenure as the second-longest-serving city manager since the position was created in the 1920s. His last day will be Friday, May 30. Jennifer Haines, another longtime employee, will succeed Dygert as city manager.

In a wide-ranging interview, Dygert reflected on his experience as city manager and some of the major events that occurred since his appointment in 2016.

'I was surprised'

After the Auburn City Council appointed Dygert as interim city manager in April 2016, the search continued for Selby's successor.

More than 40 candidates applied for the position. Interviews were conducted, but Â鶹ÊÓƵ reported at the time that the City Council was not impressed by the candidates.

Councilors began discussing Dygert for the role. He interviewed in July 2016.

"I was surprised," Dygert said. "I have said it many times, I don't consider myself cut from the same cloth as most folks that sit in these positions across the country. My background is not the same, so I thought it was interesting."

He continued, "When I was asked to do it on a more permanent basis, I was surprised and initially declined because it's not what I do. It's not what I had aspirations to do. We went back and forth for a period of time, I think, a couple of months at least. Then somehow we came to the agreement and I made the move."

In October 2016, the City Council appointed him as city manager.

$10 million

While Dygert was the interim city manager, the state launched the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in 2016. The regional competition, known as DRI, is for a $10 million grant to support projects within downtown corridors.

Auburn applied in that first year, but the $10 million prize was awarded to Oswego. The city applied again in 2017, with that award going to Cortland.

In 2018, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited Auburn to announce the city won the $10 million DRI grant. The funding has supported private and public projects in downtown Auburn. One of the largest projects was the construction of a new fire station on Seminary Street.

It is one of the major developments to occur under Dygert's leadership, but he credits others in the city organization for their work. He singled out Christina Selvek, the city's director of capital improvement program and grants, for developing the application to be competitive in the DRI.

"What the public sees is an announcement — '$10 million, that's great,'" he said. "But the work that happens behind the scenes to administer those funds for years is significant. Every nickel has to be accounted for. Every nickel has to be spent properly and the services or the materials that are acquired have to be done properly within state and federal guidelines. There's a lot that goes into it."

Dygert acknowledges the DRI win was "a big deal" for the city.

"That will pay dividends for years and years to come," he said.

Ambulance

One of Dygert's most significant contributions is his advocacy for establishing a city-run ambulance service.

Auburn City Ambulance was formed in 2021. There was criticism of the decision to drop TLC, a private firm, in favor of creating a public agency.

Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino, who was a councilor at the time of the 2021 vote, recalled Dygert presenting them with the proposal.

"Jeff was the person to get it done," Giannettino said. "He understood the need to take it over."

Dygert understood the challenges municipalities across New York and the country faced with providing emergency medical services. Those struggles continue, with private operators pulling out and volunteer shortages in rural areas.

Four years after the agency's creation, Dygert believes residents are better served having a city-run service.

"We're doing pretty good. Operationally, we're doing very good," he said. "There could be improvement just like anything else, but the environment that we're working in continues to change, too. We're always trying to adjust and accommodate for different changes that we see."

Infrastructure

The city began or completed several infrastructure projects during Dygert's tenure.

The projects include $94 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades — the largest capital project in the city's history — and the construction of a new fire station.

Among the projects highlighted by Dygert is the decision to install turf at city-owned Falcon Park. Transitioning from grass to turf has increased the facility's usage. Before the change, the Auburn Doubledays primarily used the facility a few months a year. Although it continues to host Doubledays games, it also hosts other sporting events throughout the year.

A partnership between the city and Cayuga Community College ensures the facility is used for much of the year. The ballpark can host several other sporting events, such as lacrosse and soccer.

Dygert told Â鶹ÊÓƵ that Falcon Park is not only a "point of pride in the community," but it's also an economic driver for the city.

"The partnership with CCC took that to another level," he said. "The change (from grass to turf) was emotional to a lot of people. That was a difficult decision to make... Even the folks that really appreciated the natural field, I think, can see the value in how much more that facility is used now than it ever was before."

Takeaways

As Dygert wraps up his career, he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the city in different capacities.

What helped him move up the ranks, he explained, is educational and self-improvement opportunities. That self-improvement, he said, affected what he was able to provide in return to the city.

There were plenty of challenges along the way. Shortly after Dygert was named interim city manager, the city dealt with the effects of harmful algal blooms in Owasco Lake. There was a fire at the city parking garage and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All these different things cause you to dig a little bit deeper into everything that we do," Dygert said. "It's a constant learning experience."

The mayors Dygert worked with during his tenure praise him for his contributions.

Former Auburn Mayor Michael Quill told Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2023 that Dygert was the best city manager he worked with during his four terms in office. Giannettino lauded Dygert's leadership style and collaboration with other local governments and organizations.

"I think his tenure is one of progress, accomplishment and building things, whether it's physical things or relationships," Giannettino said.

Dygert said he will miss his involvement in the decision-making process and developing connections with other entities. 

"I think that's a big part of my job is to try to put the right people or the right organizations together to make things happen," he said.

Looking back on his career, he said what led him to a career in public service was his family. His grandfather was a New York state trooper and his father was a firefighter at the Syracuse airport.

Dygert joined the Auburn Fire Department 31 years ago. Finishing his career as the city's top administrator was not part of the plan.

"I never really thought that this is where I would end up," he said.