Public Works Directors' Departures Spark Staff Reorganization Discussions

On Feb. 11, Public Works Director Steve Myrter left San Anselmo for a job as the public works director in Signal Hill, California. The town, though, is not in a rush to fill his full-time position.

At the San Anselmo Town Council meeting on Feb. 22, the council approved two contracts: one for retired Mill Valley Public Works Director Wayne Bush to work part-time as the interim public works director at a cost of $150 per hour – expected to total $30,000 by the end of the fiscal year – and a second contract for engineer Sean Condry to work full-time on the day-to-day public works issues at a cost of $90 per hour – expected to total $70,000 by the end of the fiscal year.

Town Manager Debbie Stutsman said the town will recruit for a full-time public works director, but first wants to take a look at the staff organizational structure.

“I'm looking at the functions to see if there is a more efficient way to organize,” said Stutsman.

Fairfax has gone through a similar change after the retirement of in December coincided with a push by the town to consolidate some staff positions, including that of public works director, in an effort to save money.

Myrter, whose annual salary was $130,968, worked for the town for a year and a half. Under his direction, said Stutsman in her weekly , a number of large capital projects were completed, including the paving of the Saunders neighborhood and San Anselmo Avenue, and the installation of pedestrian warning systems.

The interim replacements are not unfamiliar to the town either. Bush is also working on some engineering projects in Fairfax and Condry has been working as an engineer for San Anselmo for a number of years. 

“I know he has been a tremendous help across the board,” said Mayor Ford Greene of Condry at the council meeting, before questioning the fiscal wisdom of signing the interim contracts – noting Condry’s contract for day-to-day public works services in the interim would extrapolate out to an annual salary of $172,000.

But, said Stutsman, Condry has actually been working nearly full-time for the town already and, additionally, doesn’t get benefits. Without Myrter’s salary, the town will actually be saving money, she said.

“It’s a little bit of a relief from the budget, simply because Steve’s done,” said Stutsman.

The funds for both the interim contracts will come out of the Engineering Department budget and the Road Maintenance Fund.