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WPCA moves to analyze operator wages as CDL requirement and staffing constraints draw attention
Summary
The commission scheduled operator interviews, requested a wage-rate analysis for licensed wastewater operators, and debated whether the CDL requirement in the operator job specification should remain mandatory, with staff offering to fund CDL training for qualified hires.
The Litchfield WPCA reviewed operator staffing and certification at its May 13 meeting and requested further analysis of compensation and qualification requirements.
Interviews for an assistant operator (OIT) were scheduled for the following week with five candidates. Senior operator Jay Zucco and operator Jose Cotto are preparing to sit for Grade 1 licensing; licensing rules require one year of documented experience before a license is issued.
Chair Chris Levesque asked staff to prepare a wage rate analysis for licensed wastewater operators (OIT through Grade 3) using union contract grades and regional benchmarks to evaluate whether compensation is competitive. Public Works Director Raz Alexe noted that a CDL requirement in the job specification is limiting the candidate pool and offered to fund CDL training for a qualified hire. Commissioner Bill Buckley cautioned that the CDL requirement was originally tied to shared services (e.g., snow plowing) rather than core plant duties and suggested making CDL a preferred, not required, qualification or using highway department CDL‑qualified staff for limited tasks.
No formal action was taken; the commission listed operator wage analysis and CDL specification as items for future discussion.
