This municipality will continue to operate without a public works director for the reminder of the current council term.
However, town council has approved some restructuring measures within the department.
“The essence of the new public works structure is that we are not creating new positions and we are not hiring a public works director at this time,” CAO Bill White told council on Aug. 7.
The town left the position vacant after previous public works director Brian Hansen left to take early retirement in March of 2017.
Since then, White, in conjunction with the town’s consultant, Triton Engineering, has been overseeing public works operations, with foremen in the roads/drainage, water and sewer departments reporting directly to the CAO.
After reviewing a report from White on Aug. 7, council appointed roads foreman/drainage superintendant Mike McIsaac as acting manager of roads and drainage.
In the new position, McIsaac will be part of the town’s senior management team and work with the water and wastewater foremen “to provide comprehensive advice and recommendations to committee and council,” the report explains.
A wastewater lead hand position will also be created under the new structure.
“The three foreman positions have assumed increased responsibilities running the department, including attending more council meetings,” the report states. “They have discussed future structure with staff leading up to potential retirement of the CAO/clerk (currently acting public works director) and the water foreman in less than two years.”
The report also notes that under the town’s succession plan, advanced leadership training has been completed by several staff members.
“We’re preparing for the future,” White told council. “We’ve been talking about succession planning here for a year or two, or more. I don’t know if I said it quite this way, but we’re building a better bench for when some of the senior citizens head out of here.”
While proposed promotions and re-assignments are expected to cost in the range of $20,000 to $24,000, it is anticipated the costs will be offset as retirements begin.
