A 3-3 vote by village council members on March 28 has delayed anyone being hired for the long vacant position of Lake Orion’s Department of Public Works superintendent.
A simple majority vote is needed to pass or turn down an agenda item question.
LO Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel had recommended hiring Bill Pottinger, currently the supervisor of Auburn Hills Public Utilities Department. Pottinger lives in Lake Orion.
The village advertised for the position and received eight applications. Van Tassel said only two applicants met the required qualifications and were interviewed.
Council members who didn’t vote to hire Pottinger preferred someone be promoted from within the DPW.
Van Tassel told the council that DPW employee Travis Simmons wasn’t interviewed because he didn’t meet all of the qualifications. Bruce Stallings, who has been running the DPW since superintendent John Ranville left last summer, didn’t apply.
Ranville, who is now a member of the council, said he feels the qualifications are set too high.
According to Ranville, Stallings didn’t apply for the job because he felt ‘he didn’t meet the standards.?
Because of all the water testing now required by the state, the village must have an employee who has a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality water license.
Since Ranville retired, there hasn’t been one.
Ranville believes the position should be given to Stallings, who’s nearing retirement, so he can groom Simmons for the next two years.
Simmons, who was at the council meeting, said he feels the two of them would make a good team.
‘You would have two guys who know what’s going on rather than someone who doesn’t,? he added.
It was pointed out that current LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh was promoted from within the police department.
Van Tassel said his promotion was different. ‘Narsh was hired as the result of competitive interviews. The process included a written exam and an oral exam done by outsiders.?
‘And with maybe a little pressure from council,? Ranville said.
‘Maybe a little,? admitted Van Tassel, ‘but Narsh did score the highest.?
Councilman Ken Van Portfliet wanted to know why Stallings never got his water license.
‘He didn’t need it,? Ranville said, implying that he (Ranville) already had one.
‘We all knew you were going to retire,? Van Portfliet told Ranville.
Council president Bill Siver suggested that Pottinger (who’s also getting close to retirement age) be hired. ‘Travis would know he’s next in line,? he added. ‘I encourage Travis to stick with it. I can’t seen it now with only three years experience.?