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PSA approves one maintenance hire for remainder of fiscal year, discusses broader system study and workforce needs
Summary
Montgomery County Public Service Authority approved funding to fill one maintenance position for the rest of the fiscal year to ease a stretched crew and instructed staff to pursue the infrastructure study already under contract; the board discussed whether the study’s scope should include workforce analysis.
The Montgomery County Public Service Authority voted to fund one maintenance position for the remainder of the current fiscal year to relieve workload pressures on its maintenance crew and to plan for a second hire in the next budget cycle.
The action came after a presentation from a county maintenance staff member, Chuck, who said the maintenance crew has grown busier and requested two positions. Chuck told the board the current budget can cover one hire now and a second could be included in next year’s budget. He said the maintenance position salary, including benefits, is $63,981 per year and described duties as installing and maintaining water and sewer connections, meter reading and participating in on-call rotations.
The board discussed how additional staff would affect on-call burdens and operational capacity. A supervisor noted on-call work is stressful and said adding personnel would help the crew maintain a life outside on-call duties. Board members and staff also tied the personnel request to a broader, ongoing system study intended to evaluate infrastructure needs as the county grows.
County staff said an A&E (architecture and engineering) firm is under contract with a purchase order issued to perform the infrastructure portion of that system-wide study. Board members asked whether that contract includes workforce or personnel analysis; staff said they did not know and would inquire with the firm about a timeline and whether the contractor can address staffing questions or has partners who can perform a workforce study.
Several supervisors said they did not want to delay the structural portion of the study while questions about personnel scope are resolved. A supervisor asked staff to return with a deadline for the report and to identify whether the firm can add personnel analysis or whether the authority should fund a separate workforce study.
A motion that the authority “find the position for the rest of this fiscal year” passed by roll call, 6–0. The recorded aye votes during the motion were: Mister Grama (Aye), Miss Demontz (Aye), Mister Fidzikowski (Aye), Miss Biggs (Aye), Mister Kitts (Aye) and Mister King (Aye). The board agreed to consider adding the second position in the next budget.
Board members emphasized the need to plan personnel capacity alongside capital investments so the authority can operate and expand efficiently as new connections continue to be added.
The staff member said he will contact the contracted firm tomorrow to request a deadline for the study and to ask whether the firm can evaluate personnel needs or recommend a partner to do so.
