Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

highway-department-study

Full Text:

Selectmen Hire Firm For Public Works Study

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen Monday voted unanimously to hire a firm to conduct an

in-depth management study of the town's public works department.

The selectmen hope the study will help improve the department's management,

cost effectiveness and its handling of road improvements. The cost of the

study would be about $13,000.

During the fall campaign, both First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Selectman

Joe Bojnowski said they heard a variety of concerns from residents regarding

public works. They vowed to address the issue once in office.

"We always have to improve what we do. That's the American way," Mr Bojnowski

said. "Public Works has a very large budget and is a very visible part of what

the town does."

Public Works Director Fred Hurley welcomed the study, saying it could only

help to improve his department.

"A professional study is probably very useful, especially with the changing

nature of the town," he said. "I know it's been done in the school system and

the police department in the past."

Heading the study will be Bob Weiss, the former town manager of Manchester,

who came highly recommended, according to Mr Rosenthal. Mr Weiss was contacted

through the field service program of Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

(CCM).

The money for the study was transferred from the Public Works' capital

equipment account into an educational account.

The study is expected to take about 170 hours to complete.