City Council is saying 'halt' to a proposed restructuring of the water department. The plan would eliminate the department even though the City Charter says there will be such a department and the City Code delineates the existence of a water superintendent.
The plan stems from a budget proposal last spring to replace longtime superintendent Gary Pilon with a renamed position of utilities superintendent who would also ride herd over the sewage and hydroelectric plants.
The rub is this new position would no longer be a department head and would instead report to the city engineer and City Council thinks that's a change requiring Council action. Putting the additional functions under the renamed superintendent seems to make some sense, but the elimination of the Water Department is a bridge too far for lawmakers still frustrated at not completing a restructuring of Parks and Recreation.
That matter is in some respects back to the drawing board as the superintendent position will be readvertised and a second program manager position is waiting for a February civil service exam.
On the matter of the Water Department, Council has set a work session to decide the matter.
Watertown Daily Times Proposed Water Department restructuring upsets Watertown council members
4 comments:
The Water Dept. runs well as it is leave it alone.
City Code/Charter? That's laughable Mayor. Do your homework. This would not be the first time the CM has restructured city personnel in a way that defies Code, recently, I might add. I presume you aren't aware of the other case either. By the way when is the CM going to decide she is ready to fill the new P&R positions?
Lets work smarter not harder. If you can combine the two departments, and make it work, that would be a benefit to Watertown.
Watertown Utilities Services with one utilties superintendent. In other utilities that I've worked with the engineer would be under the super.
Combining of the Depts was tried under Ex-City Manager Doug Lowe. It didnt work then, it wont work now.
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