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 personnel — before finalizing promotions and setting exam materials. Commissioner comments stressed the need to confirm certifications and to avoid being presented with decisions without supporting paperwork.

What the commission approved: Commissioner (S3) moved to appoint Keck to begin Jan. 17, 2026; a staff member seconded, and the motion passed 3–0. The vote followed staff and legal advisement that Brailler’s retirement notice and the absence of a statutory “vacancy” definition do not prevent the commission from acting now to name an exceptional appointment and set a future commencement date. As a follow-up, the commission voted to schedule a promotional exam for the superintendent/supervisor promotional list. Staff noted an estimate and an available testing date from Clancy’s (Dec. 17) and said the city would post the exam and distribute study materials; commissioners asked that exam content and the job‑description packet be provided to the commission in advance.

Commissioners’ concerns and process questions: several commissioners said they felt bypassed when advance work — contacting vendors and arranging tests — occurred outside the commission’s regular meeting forums. One commissioner asked that utilities staff be present and that the commission receive a packet with the test’s scope and study materials so commissioners can adjudicate any grievances raised within the administrative timeframe. Legal/staff commentary emphasized that the promotional process and subsequent hiring steps (background checks, drug screening, and conditional hire timelines) would still apply even if the exam is scheduled before the promotion commencement date.

Votes at a glance: • Exceptional appointment of John Keck to superintendent (commence 01/17/2026): motion by Commissioner (S3); second by Staff member (S5); outcome: approved, recorded as 3–0 in favor. • Motion to schedule promotional exam for superintendent with Clancy’s: motion by Commissioner (S3); second by Commissioner (S4); outcome: approved (ayes recorded), motion passed.

What’s next: staff said it will provide the commission with Keck’s and Brailler’s job descriptions, the wastewater personnel list and the proposed exam documentation. The commission identified the need to advertise the promotional exam locally and to allow adequate study time for internal and external candidates. The commission set a tentative next meeting for Nov. 19 and adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Quotes from the meeting (attributed to speakers on the record): • Mayor Caslo: “He was an exceptional appointment to the position of supervisor…He can perform every single duty, every single operation in that facility.” • Staff/Legal advisor (S5): “Vacancy is not defined within the statute…when a position becomes vacant by reason of retirement, or promotion…there’s no real bright line rule about when that vacancy occurs.” • Commissioner (S3): “I don’t even know what’s on the test…we have to sit in that test and deal with people that have questions or they oppose.”

Reporting notes: the commission asked staff to supply written job descriptions and exam study materials to the commission’s packet; those materials were requested during the meeting and were discussed as available for retrieval from staff files. The commission emphasized continuity for EPA‑regulated reporting duties and internal training and retention incentives for wastewater licensure advancement.