Plymouth Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson approached the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members Monday night with a request to hire wastewater maintenance workers.
He explained that they placed a self-imposed hiring freeze in June once a maintenance person took a different position and the person was not replaced. He added the announcement of the closure of the Del Monte and Bay Valley Foods plants delayed the hiring even further. He said some maintenance issues were set aside and they are now feeling the effects of that postponement. Additionally, Davidson said a second maintenance person will be retiring in April next year.
“What we’ve found is that with the additional equipment that we have and the learning curve that goes along with that we’re struggling to keep up,” said Davidson. “We’re getting into some additional overtime which defeats the purpose of a hiring freeze. I’m a little bit cautious that we won’t have adequate training time by the time the second person retires.”
When the second maintenance employee retires they will be hiring another maintenance person.
The board members unanimously approved the request.
