SOUTH DEERFIELD — The South Deerfield Water District is still looking for a suitable replacement for longtime Superintendent Roger Sadoski Jr. who wanted to retire this year, but stayed on so the district would meet state certification requirements.
On Tuesday, the superintendent explained that the district advertised and accepted applications for the position following his retirement announcement; however, the search fell through because none of the applicants held required certifications, and were therefore disqualified.
An enticement for staying was a $20,000 raise. That money was approved at a water district meeting earlier this year.
“Factors influencing the commissioners’ decision,” a statement released by the Board of Commissioners states, “were a recent mandate from the (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection) stressing the need to hire additional licensed operators, and secondly, the present superintendent’s stated desire to retire in 2016.”
“There was no debate,” Sadoski said about the board’s decision to offer a raise this year. “They needed to get somebody, and if I didn’t accept, they’d have to get a contract operator, who wouldn’t have the knowledge.”
The statement relates that a contractor would have cost more than the town was willing to spend.
“After obtaining hourly rates for consulting services for sufficiently licensed operators,” the statement continues, “the board decided that it would be prudent to offer the additional salary as an incentive, rather than pay what could to a minimum of $200,000, for sufficiently licensed consulting operators.”
According to Sadoski, another concern considered by the board is that a third-party, out of town company can’t respond to water emergencies as quickly or efficiently as someone who lives in the area. He stressed that each district is unique; just because someone is certified, it takes time and experience to get up-to-speed with daily operations.
The superintendent said his contract is open-ended, and that he intends to stay in the district until others are trained, or additional operators can be recruited.
He also said the district has been transparent and stressed that the search process hasn’t been in any way secretive.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo