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It's Complicated

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wal66

wal66

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Last week I get a call from the City Manager wanting to meet in his office after lunch. The Utility Director calls me a little while later and ask if I know what's up cause he's been called in as well. I have no clue and tell him just that but agreed with him this was highly unusual cause the CM said it concerned a business opportunity.

So at the meeting the CM is wanting to know if I would be willing to operate a sister city's wastewater plant. He is willing to have me work out the terms of the contract and even give me time during the day to go over and check on their plant. He said their operator was retiring and it could be financially good for me and P
from a public relations standpoint it was great for the city.

I am the operator but there is another guy with supervisor title over all water and sewer and then the utility director over him. The UD was there but not the other guy. So I bring this to the attention of th CM and let him know that according to HIS chain of command the other guy had to be involved.

So now the supervisor is involved and he is trying to take over the show. He is trying to charge too much money and offer way too limited of service. Great if you can get it but not within the scope of what the city was trying to do.

I try to remind the guy that we are being offered a city vehicle on city time to go to the neighboring city 3 times a week for 30 minutes plus one weekend visit all the while being on city time and we can charge the other city easily $1000 a month for ourselves with the CM's blessing AND HE WANTS MORE!

He wants to charge $1500 plus this for that and that for this.

This isn't the worst part of the story though.

I am in Daytona till Wednesday for training and the first class I have today I run into the operator from the sister city in question. I congratulate the guy on his up-coming retirement. He's not retiring.

I quickly backpedal my way out of this with the excuse that I must have mistaken him for another operator of another neighboring city.

My problem now though is I don't want to be a part of a fellow operator losing his job. Not just an operator but a damn good one even. Better than myself. They want to let the guy go just because contract operations is cheaper than his salary.

I am not cut out for cut-throat business.
 
Reno, I want to tell the guy but there is a problem that could occur if I do. Actually several problems.

1: it could cause friction between the 2 cities. The political climate within the county is turbulent.
2: it could cause me problems with my own job.
3: They could have reasons we aren't aware of to replace him anyways.
4: my city manager may have compromised confidentiality by prematurely making us aware of this.

I could be damned if I warn him and I am definitely keeper of a guilty conscience if I don't. I am angry that I have been put in this position. It's not like I asked for it.
 
Wally, you are not to blame with whatever happens with the other guy. That was decided without you. But you do have to make sure you aren't "retiring" also. Sounds to me like you have little choice in this and should just go along.
 
Most city jobs are non-union. We don't have our own police force but we do have a full-time fire department and they are the only ones allowed to be unionized. The utility departments, recreation department and buildings and grounds have in our personal policies that any talk of unions are grounds for immediate termination.
 
Maybe the other guy doesn't even like his job. Maybe it'll be an excuse to do something that he would rather do. Who knows.

I'd be looking out for my own interests. I wouldn't worry about someone else's situation when it's beyond your control.
 
wal66
Most city jobs are non-union. We don't have our own police force but we do have a full-time fire department and they are the only ones allowed to be unionized. The utility departments, recreation department and buildings and grounds have in our personal policies that any talk of unions are grounds for immediate termination.
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That should be illegal.
 
Badnina
Wally, you are not to blame with whatever happens with the other guy. That was decided without you. But you do have to make sure you aren't "retiring" also. Sounds to me like you have little choice in this and should just go along.
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I actually do have a choice here and it is one I gave strong consideration after I wrote the original post earlier. I could easily step aside and let my supervisor bid the job alone. He could bid lower individually and end up making more. The city would still be in a position to get the PR they crave.


It really shouldn't be that difficult. I know the operator but it's not like we hang out or are friends even. I need to be thinking of my future especially the way cutbacks are now days and the finical climate. If the tables were turned I am sure no-one would be thinking about me.
 
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