Are City Hall Staffing Levels Adequate?
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 4:51 pm
That is a question for Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers and City Council members to ask themselves. Water bills and taxes go up while services go down, in my opinion.
Why are these services going down? I believe it is because Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers and City Council members are not staffing our city departments with enough employees.
Today, we still start with the Department of Public Works - Division of Water and Wastewater Collection. It appears that in the Divsion of Water and Wastewater collection, only three people are staffed as "water maintenance crew". There were four, but apparently one was laid off in late 2015 and we are down to three.
I am assuming the "water maintenance crew" in the water distribution unit is the crew responsible for the maintenance and repair of manhole covers, catch basins, storm drains, and castings.
Not many people pay attention to detail in the way that I do, but has anyone noticed the large amount of noisy, loose, or sunken manhole covers, catch basins, storm drains, and castings?
I can hear BuildLakewood and mayor supporters now. "Why are you complaining about manhole covers?"
I am complaining about manhole covers for several reasons. First, my water bill has gone up. If I pay more, I expect more, just as I would expect shopping at a store. Then again, if City Hall were a private store, it would be out of business, in my opinion. Second, there are stories about vehicles and even pedestrians falling through loose manhole covers and into the drink below. There was even a story on channel 5 about such an instance in Cleveland about a year ago. A girl fell into a loose manhole cover on the sidewalk and hurt herself. Third, I don't want to listen to the clanging of a manhole cover all night when I am trying to sleep.
Yes, City Hall has been made aware of the locations of the noisy or otherwise defective water hardware. They were made aware quite some time ago. Below is a running list of the locations of defective water hardware I have encountered thus far. A few have been repaired, while most have not.
In conclusion, we have three people. Three people to inspect and repair every single manhole cover, catch basin, storm drain, and casting in the city, along with their other duties. How can three people be stuck with such a task? Also, many of the storm drains and catch basins are overflowing with leaves.
Are City Hall staffing levels adequate? This is not a crack on our workers, but a reason to look at staffing levels. More to come later on trees and staffing levels in the Division of Streets & Forestry.
Why are these services going down? I believe it is because Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers and City Council members are not staffing our city departments with enough employees.
Today, we still start with the Department of Public Works - Division of Water and Wastewater Collection. It appears that in the Divsion of Water and Wastewater collection, only three people are staffed as "water maintenance crew". There were four, but apparently one was laid off in late 2015 and we are down to three.
- Water Employees.jpg (198.72 KiB) Viewed 764 times
Not many people pay attention to detail in the way that I do, but has anyone noticed the large amount of noisy, loose, or sunken manhole covers, catch basins, storm drains, and castings?
I can hear BuildLakewood and mayor supporters now. "Why are you complaining about manhole covers?"
I am complaining about manhole covers for several reasons. First, my water bill has gone up. If I pay more, I expect more, just as I would expect shopping at a store. Then again, if City Hall were a private store, it would be out of business, in my opinion. Second, there are stories about vehicles and even pedestrians falling through loose manhole covers and into the drink below. There was even a story on channel 5 about such an instance in Cleveland about a year ago. A girl fell into a loose manhole cover on the sidewalk and hurt herself. Third, I don't want to listen to the clanging of a manhole cover all night when I am trying to sleep.
Yes, City Hall has been made aware of the locations of the noisy or otherwise defective water hardware. They were made aware quite some time ago. Below is a running list of the locations of defective water hardware I have encountered thus far. A few have been repaired, while most have not.
In conclusion, we have three people. Three people to inspect and repair every single manhole cover, catch basin, storm drain, and casting in the city, along with their other duties. How can three people be stuck with such a task? Also, many of the storm drains and catch basins are overflowing with leaves.
Are City Hall staffing levels adequate? This is not a crack on our workers, but a reason to look at staffing levels. More to come later on trees and staffing levels in the Division of Streets & Forestry.