Council orders disposal of aging Ram pickup, assigns $35,000 for mains maintenance and hires waterworks operator

Harpers Ferry councilors moved on multiple waterworks items: they directed staff to dispose of an aging Ram pickup that staff said would require about $4,000 in repairs, approved assigning up to $35,000 for immediate mains maintenance projects, hired a recommended candidate for a waterworks operator position, and directed staff to re‑advertise remaining open positions.

Vehicle and fleet: Public works staff reported the smaller pickup (described as a 2015 Ram 1500) is at a repair shop with an estimated $4,000 in immediate repairs and possible parts delays of two to three months. Mileage appeared in a 2023 service record at about 105,000. Councilors described a pattern of repeated repairs on similar older Dodge/Ram vehicles and favored buying a lighter‑duty late‑model utility vehicle (councilors mentioned the Ford Maverick as an example). The council voted unanimously to dispose of the Ram and pursue a replacement that better suits day‑to‑day needs.

Maintenance funds: Staff described three active leaks that likely require excavation or pit work, with prior similar projects individually estimated in the $6,000–$8,000 range. The council voted to assign up to $35,000 from the Harpers Ferry Waterworks renew‑and‑replace fund to cover immediate maintenance of mains projects, pending further review and voucher processing by the finance office.

Staffing: The council approved hiring David Hartman as a Waterworks Operator, Class One, at step three (the transcript records step‑three pay as $2,212 under the current schedule). The motion to hire was seconded and carried 6‑0; staff were directed to extend an offer, confirm acceptance and return with the employee's start date. The council also voted to re‑advertise remaining waterworks openings in consultation with the public works administrator to accelerate recruitment.

Why it matters: The actions restore short‑term operational capacity for waterworks, address immediate infrastructure risks, and move the utility toward a smaller, more reliable fleet suitable for narrow streets and lighter field tasks.

What happens next: Staff will pursue disposal options permitted by the town ordinance, research replacement vehicles and report costs; finance staff will process or reserve the $35,000 for mains work; HR and the public works administrator will execute the hire and re‑advertising tasks.