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DPW commissioner role remains unfilled; staff covering responsibilities for now
Summary
Council heard that the city's DPW commissioner position remains vacant after more than a year and that senior department staff are covering the duties; city personnel and council discussed recruitment challenges tied to political appointment risk and whether structural hiring changes should be considered.
BINGHAMTON — The City Council discussed the long‑running vacancy in the Department of Public Works commissioner post at its Jan. 27 work session and heard that department staff are covering the duties while recruiting continues.
Kent Drake Treece, director of personnel, said the position has been advertised repeatedly and that, in the most recent window, only one application was received and was not qualified. He said Josh (acting commissioner) and Fran are “stepping up” to cover most commissioner duties; the arrangement is a continuation of responsibility adjustments put in place after the prior commissioner left. “Everything is just kinda slid up for them,” Treece said.
Council members asked whether the city is saving money by leaving the position unfilled. Treece said yes. Members pressed about what work might not be getting done; Treece said he could not identify specific undone tasks and invited Josh and Fran to address operational effects. Acting Commissioner Josh (Blutty) and other council members described the department as operating normally for core services like snow removal and paving, and praised staff handling of street services.
Several councilors and the mayor’s representative noted the recruitment challenge is partly political: department heads serve at the mayor’s pleasure, and qualified candidates may be reluctant to leave secure positions for roles they perceive as potentially short‑lived after an election. Treece and the deputy mayor said the office is continuing active recruiting via job postings, outreach and prior candidate pools.
Council discussed alternatives—moving positions to civil service/management testing or restructuring—but made no formal directive. For now, officials said the city will continue with the existing responsibility adjustments and aim to fill the position after a successful recruitment.
