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Committee forwards Daniel Gervin to lead Department of Environmental Management; cites staffing, wastewater priorities
Summary
Daniel Gervin, the mayor’s nominee for director of Environmental Management, told the committee he will emphasize staffing, training and project delivery for wastewater and solid-waste initiatives; the committee forwarded his nomination with a favorable recommendation.
The committee forwarded Mayor Alameda’s nomination of Daniel (Dan) Gervin to be director of the Department of Environmental Management with a favorable recommendation to full council.
Managing Director William Bruhanty introduced Gervin and described an open recruitment process that identified Gervin as a highly qualified applicant. Gervin told the committee he has 12 days on-island and outlined his background (mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree, MBA, registered professional engineer, private-sector experience in environmental and energy projects) and expressed a focus on staffing, training and project delivery.
On staffing, Gervin said DEM has approximately 296 funded positions and was about 44 positions short. He offered a three-year goal to grow the department and emphasized investment in training so staff are ready to operate new equipment when it arrives. “My 3-year goal is to grow the department,” Gervin said, describing a recruiting and training push and partnerships with a local community college for skill development.
Council members asked about priorities including the Hilo wastewater upgrade (a multi-stage, five-year project intended to meet NPDES permit standards), solid-waste diversion, existing contracts (including an outstanding question about a commercial composting contract), and the county’s strategy for cesspool conversion in rural areas. Gervin described the Hilo upgrade as a multi-stage project with major components expected to begin delivery after the new year, and said the department will bring in construction management expertise for large projects.
Council members highlighted the need for county engagement with state legislators on cesspool conversion timelines and funding pathways, and urged Gervin to work with community partners on regional composting and transfer-station operations. The managing director said the mayor has prioritized cesspool conversion and established a working task force; the county is pursuing legislative conversations about alternative pathways and incentives.
After questioning the committee voted to forward the nomination. The full council will consider confirmation at its next meeting; the committee recorded eight ayes with one absence (Connelly Kleinfelder).
