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Rate Hike To Finance Water Plant Job?
May 22, 2013

Dear Editor,

I suppose we don’t have enough to do but sit around and question everything.

Sure, I have some questions about the Water Plant, its maintenance, the water quality, the costs of its operations and management. We used to flush out the system a lot. I haven’t seen much of that lately. In fact, I have never seen it done at this end of the line even though two new flush out valves were installed. Also, it seems to me we have some people with certifications in place who already do the plant operations now.

For maintenance and upgrade, maybe we need an outside contractor and maybe it can be done self-help. I applaud the Town Board for touring the facilities and looking into this first hand. I am a formerly certified Navy water chemist. These things interest me too.

Now I am neither a supporter nor a detractor of Bob Maxbauer. But several people around this town seem to want to criticize his every action no matter what he does. So, I say let’s get the cards out on the table on all this.

The things among many that the Town Board should be asking are these. Do we need to create another position at the water plant? Do we need to send Bob Maxbauer to get the certifications now, as if it is a foregone conclusion that he will be the one to assume that new position? Don’t we have certified people already? I have more questions as well. But it is not for me to decide. I don’t have all the facts.

One thing though. We finally figured out that we are a Council-Manager form of government, right? The responsibilities of Town Management fall under the Town Manager. We also finally learned that he has hire/fire authority. So, let me ask this. If Bob Maxbauer is retiring in June and someone new is taking his place, who is it that is going to hire someone to fill the Water Plant job if created? It cannot be Bob. He has a job. It really isn’t the Town Board. I mean they can authorize the position; but the hiring falls upon the Town Manager.

So, it seems that it should be Bob’s successor who makes that decision. And you know what? if a position is created, heck, maybe I want to apply for the job. Or maybe one of the other letter writers would want it.

It will be interesting to see what the Town Board decides.

Captain Jim Barton
Oriental
5/22/13

To the Editor:

My questions are these:
1) If the water works employees are capable of fixing the needed repairs, why haven’t they?

2) How can a city employee set themselves up for continued employment under another title?

3) Is it not a conflict of interest to be a city employee and also a member of the board?

4) Our water rates are already high. Oriental is mostly retirees on a fixed income. Where do you think we will come up with the extra money…especially now?

5) How many employees work for the city?

6) What are their salaries?

7) How many city employees are related to each other or board members?

Answers please to all questions.

Gail Good
Oriental
5/21/13

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