Like a baseball team, it’s hard for the township’s public works department to operate if anyone is missing from its nine-member team.
That was the message director Larry Lynch brought to council recently in his bid for approval to add another contract position for a period of one year.
“I’m in a really tough spot,” Lynch said, noting due to injuries and other factors his department will be “a full body short” for the rest of this year.
He added things get worse in the summer, when each public works employee starts taking several weeks of holidays.
“The simple fact is, with 375km of roads, 750km of ditches, bridge and culvert structures and five urban areas to look after, we cannot be continuously short of staff,” Lynch said in he report to council.
Playing on Lynch’s baseball analogy, councillor Neil Driscoll asked if the “coach” every gets involved to help out his “players.”
Lynch replied yes, but stressed that takes him away from other jobs that he otherwise would be doing.
Council unanimously passed a resolution approving the contract position and agreeing to review public works’ “staffing compliment” once the year contract has expired.
