Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee pauses confirmation of engineering director after administrative-code mismatch
Summary
The Committee of Legislative Affairs and Elections referred the reappointment of Eric Swanson as director of engineering back to the administration after staff found the city's Administrative Code appears to require the Director of Engineering to also hold the title Executive Director of Public Works.
The Committee of Legislative Affairs and Elections on Monday paused action on the reappointment of Eric Swanson as Everett City's director of engineering and asked the administration to return with corrected appointment language or an updated administrative code.
Chief of Staff Erin DeBeney told the committee that the Administrative Code treats the Engineering Department as overseen by the City Services Director and that, "technically in the Administrative Code the City Services Director oversees the Engineering Department." She recommended holding negative action and allowing the administration to resubmit the order or amend the code so titles align.
Swanson, who was invited to speak before the committee, described his duties and department operations. "The role as Director has expanded since I started," he said, explaining the job now includes assisting other departments with capital improvements and checking in on active construction and development projects. He told councilors his hours are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday and that he routinely visits sites, speaks with site supervisors and coordinates solutions with other department heads.
On contractor oversight, Swanson said contractors hire site supervisors and the department follows up when work leaves materials that block sidewalks. Regarding larger state-administered projects, he said the city must "work with MassDOT such that the issues we bring to their attention are dealt with" because MassDOT administers the project and the city cannot directly order the contractor to make changes.
Swanson said the department currently has "6, maybe 7" staff (including an intern) and that much of the design and permitting work is outsourced, though he is attempting to bring simpler projects in-house. He also said the city could withhold payment if unsatisfied with a contractor's work, but acknowledged the city had not yet used that option.
After discussion, the committee voted to refer the appointment back to the administration with a request to provide either an updated Administrative Code or an amended appointment order that aligns titles and authority. The committee recorded approval to refer and will consider the corrected documents at a future meeting.
