Amherst Civil Service Commission approves exceptional appointment of John Keck as wastewater superintendent, schedules promotional exam

The Amherst Civil Service Commission voted 3–0 to make an exceptional appointment of John Keck as superintendent of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, effective Jan. 17, 2026, after accepting Superintendent Alan Brailler’s retirement notice. Commissioners also approved moving forward with a promotional examination (vendor: Clancy’s, if the date is available) to fill the supervisor vacancy Keck’s promotion will create.

Mayor Caslo distributed Brailler’s retirement letter, which lists his last day as Jan. 16, 2026, and urged the commission to approve Keck’s promotion so the city can maintain continuity and allow for on‑the‑job training. “He was an exceptional appointment to the position of supervisor,” the mayor said, noting Keck has been supervisor since 2022 and “can perform every single duty, every single operation in that facility.”

Why it matters: the wastewater superintendent role oversees EPA‑regulated operations and mandatory reporting after overflow and rain events. Commissioners repeatedly pressed staff for written documentation — the job description, the supervisor’s current duties, and a roster of wastewater…