Committee approves deputy public works commissioner position after title change amid DEP pressure and hiring challenges

BROCKTON, Mass. — The ordinance committee on Aug. 7 voted to recommend creation of a deputy public works commissioner post, amending the proposed title from "deputy director" to "deputy commissioner." The measure includes a pay scale and aims to address a shortage of licensed water distribution operators, Commissioner of Public Works Patrick Hill said.

"This position ... requires possession of a 4 d distribution license," Hill told the committee, adding that the 4‑D credential is the top tier on the distribution side and is tied to state and federal requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Hill said he received no qualified applicants when the city previously advertised the water systems manager role and that few operators hold the 4‑D license.

Why it matters: The city lacks an on‑staff distribution operator, Hill said, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently flagged the issue during a sanitary survey. Hill said he expects an administrative consent order (ACO) related specifically to not having a designated distribution operator and that DEP officials "are not gonna let this slide anymore." He emphasized the city needs a solution that will satisfy regulators and provide on‑site training for existing staff.

Options discussed: - New position: Hill proposed combining two existing roles (water systems manager and superintendent of engineering) and setting a maximum salary in the $151,000–$152,000 range for the new deputy position. He said the combined top salaries for the two older positions totaled roughly $220,000. - Vendor alternative: Hill and others described an option to contract with Veolia (the city’s current water/wastewater contractor) or another vendor to supply a licensed operator and training for about $225,000 a year; that option would buy time and include on‑the‑job training for city staff. - Certification timeline: Hill explained how the licensing pathway works, noting operators typically work as operators‑in‑training (OIT) for several years before obtaining full licensure.

Councilor concerns and votes: Several councilors raised concerns about morale, pension liabilities and the city’s timing while contract negotiations are underway. One councilor recommended delaying the move and using a one‑year vendor contract to buy time; another said the DPW’s organizational structure should be reviewed before appointing a second‑in‑command. A motion to table failed. Councilors then voted to amend the job title in the ordinance from "director" to "commissioner," and the committee ultimately voted to recommend the ordinance favorably as amended.

Funding and implementation: Dr. Troy Clarkson said the position’s funding would come from existing budgeted positions; the city expects to shift budget lines into the commissioner’s budget to support the new role, potentially reducing overall spending compared with filling the two prior positions independently. Hill said DEP timelines and the pending ACO create urgency: "We're gonna be kind of at the will of, you know, some kind of consultant or something to get somebody on board," he said.

Discussion versus decision: The record shows substantive discussion about regulatory compliance, recruitment difficulty for certified 4‑D operators, internal promotion and training versus contracting. The committee voted on the amended ordinance (title changed to "deputy commissioner") and recommended it favorably.

Speakers quoted in this article were those who spoke on this agenda item during the meeting.