Council asks DPW for names and contacts for recent backfill hires amid operational questions

During the meeting, council members asked the Department of Public Works whether recent backfills for operational positions — including trash pickup and snow plowing crews — have been completed and requested the names and contact information of the new hires so council members can maintain direct contacts.

An agency official said the department had staffing updates and, in response to the council's request, offered to "follow-up with that, formally for the council group." The official added that if the new hires want to share contact information, "that would be great." The council chair framed the request as applying "for everybody, every department, every commissioner, deputy," asking that departments provide contacts.

Nut graf: Council members said the names and direct contacts will help coordination on operational matters such as trash pickup and snow plowing; DPW agreed to provide the information but the transcript does not record the names or show those contacts being provided.

The exchange included references to past DPW contacts; one speaker said the department's past contacts "have been very helpful in the past, whether it was Henry Smart or William Yawl, Evinci," but the transcript does not show whether those are current hires or former contacts. The agency official said they would save the council "some back and forth" by compiling contacts.

The meeting moved on after the commitment to follow up; no personnel lists were attached to the agenda in the recorded excerpt.