Town OKs operations department

Local News

February 10, 2013

Town OKs operations department

BY JOE OLENICK Lockport Union-Sun & Journal The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sun Feb 10, 2013, 02:46 AM EST

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — The Town of Lockport will have a new Department of Operations, following approval from the board on Wednesday night.

The department will be responsible for the maintenance of town buildings and land, with the exception of the highway garage. The highway department will operate as it usually does, with the highway superintendent, an elected position, unaffected by the move.

The director of operations will oversee the new department and draw a salary close to those of other department heads. The position will be responsible for the management of the town’s parks, lighting district, water and sewer systems. Employees in those areas will report to the new director, which will be appointed by the Town Board.

Supervisor Marc R. Smith said the creation of the operations department will end the carrousel of finding a department for certain projects. A department might handle one project, but then pass another off on someone else.

”We got tired of the round robin,” Smith said. “And we grew enough for this.”

Wednesday’s approval will now go before Niagara County officials, then to Albany. Last year, state officials approved the creation of the director of operations position, so approval for the department’s creation shouldn’t be an issue, Smith said.

The town made some changes to the job description, changes that were recommended by the state, the supervisor said.

”It should go pretty quickly,” Smith said.

The board voted 5-0 to create the position. No one spoke at a public hearing concerning the operations department Wednesday.

Consider reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.