Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Well House Consultant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hainesville trustees debate hiring former project lead for well-house oversight
Summary
Trustees discussed hiring a consultant/employee for oversight of the village well-house project at $50 per hour for an estimated 100 hours; the village attorney recommended hiring the person as an employee. The board discussed alternatives including assigning in-house public works staff but no final vote on the hiring appears in the transcript.
Hainesville trustees spent part of the meeting debating whether to hire an outside consultant — to be paid $50 per hour for an estimated 100 hours — to oversee construction and commissioning of the village well house.
Supporters said the consultant would act as an on-site representative to ensure contractors follow project plans and to report progress to maintenance staff. A village official told trustees the work is budgeted and estimated at about 100 hours, producing an approximate total cost of $5,000.
The village’s lawyer, Scott, advised the board that the best way to bring the person on for the work would be to hire him as an employee rather than as an independent contractor. As stated in the meeting, “We spoke with our lawyer, Scott, and he said the best way to do this would be to actually hire him as an employee to do this job for us.”
Trustees discussed alternatives including using Israel, a current public works employee, who is already paid by the village. Some trustees questioned whether Israel had the specific knowledge to supervise the well-house work; others said Israel is familiar with public-works operations. One trustee said the proposed consultant “has known this project for the last four years” and could therefore be an efficient on-site presence.
There was conversation about timing: the pad for the well house is expected to be poured in October or November, with connections and testing continuing into the following spring. Trustee comments suggested most on-site work would begin in the fall and peak before spring testing.
The transcript records discussion and legal advice but does not record a completed vote or formal approval on the hiring during the sampled portion of the meeting. Trustees also discussed whether the estimated 100 hours could be exceeded and noted the estimate could change as work proceeds.
The discussion ended with direction to consult further and to confirm whether the village should hire the consultant as an employee, per the attorney’s advice. The transcript does not show a final board decision recorded during the provided excerpt.
