MONROE - Maybe filling the city's vacant position of Director of Public Works isn't so pressing after all.
That's the conclusion members of the city's Salary and Personnel Committee came to last week. According to city officials, supervisors of the city's public works departments reported that their areas have been running pretty smoothly since the retirement of Kelly Finkenbinder, the last public works director, in February 2011. They and City Administrator Phil Rath have divided the duties of that position since then. Current public works departments are streets and sanitation, parks, engineering, water, storm water and wastewater.
Without a perceived immediate need for public works management and oversight, the committee instead opted to hire a new director of the water and wastewater utilities. George Thompson, the current water and wastewater utilities director, is leaving June 1.
"At this time, we felt it was more important to get someone at the wastewater treatment plant, so as to get him established for this $20 million (upgrade) project," said Charles Schuringa, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee. "We'll get someone placed there first, and we'll look at going that other route (of a hiring a director of public works) later on."
The job opening is already being advertised on the city's website. The salary ranges between $58,000 and $85,000, depending on qualifications. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, Rath said, but the first review of applications will include those received by Friday, June 22. Rath hopes to have the position filled by the end of June.
From the start of their discussion three weeks ago whether to fill the public works or the wastewater treatment plant position, committee members questioned who would be able to handle the planned $20 million wastewater expansion - especially as the city nears the time to hire construction contractors.
Thompson assured them that, besides himself, other staff members at the wastewater treatment plant and the water department have been working with AECOM, the engineering firm hired to oversee the expansion plans and designs. He said he expected "the project to move ahead smoothly" in his absence.
That's the conclusion members of the city's Salary and Personnel Committee came to last week. According to city officials, supervisors of the city's public works departments reported that their areas have been running pretty smoothly since the retirement of Kelly Finkenbinder, the last public works director, in February 2011. They and City Administrator Phil Rath have divided the duties of that position since then. Current public works departments are streets and sanitation, parks, engineering, water, storm water and wastewater.
Without a perceived immediate need for public works management and oversight, the committee instead opted to hire a new director of the water and wastewater utilities. George Thompson, the current water and wastewater utilities director, is leaving June 1.
"At this time, we felt it was more important to get someone at the wastewater treatment plant, so as to get him established for this $20 million (upgrade) project," said Charles Schuringa, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee. "We'll get someone placed there first, and we'll look at going that other route (of a hiring a director of public works) later on."
The job opening is already being advertised on the city's website. The salary ranges between $58,000 and $85,000, depending on qualifications. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, Rath said, but the first review of applications will include those received by Friday, June 22. Rath hopes to have the position filled by the end of June.
From the start of their discussion three weeks ago whether to fill the public works or the wastewater treatment plant position, committee members questioned who would be able to handle the planned $20 million wastewater expansion - especially as the city nears the time to hire construction contractors.
Thompson assured them that, besides himself, other staff members at the wastewater treatment plant and the water department have been working with AECOM, the engineering firm hired to oversee the expansion plans and designs. He said he expected "the project to move ahead smoothly" in his absence.