Town can hire emergency staffing, Sewer Commissioners say

Jan 14, 2021

The town will continue to be able to hire additional licensed operators to staff Wareham Sewer Department facilities as needed, following the Sewer Commission’s 3-0 approval of an emergency staffing proposal during its Jan. 14 meeting. 

“As covid continues to rear its ugly head, and staff becomes an issue and replacement is difficult, this allows us to bring in licensed operators to staff the facility to meet our requirements,” said Guy Campinha, the director of water pollution control in Wareham.

Campinha said the commissioners had discussed the possibility of hiring more people after “the town gave [the commissioners] permission to work with Weston and Sampson to hire operators” in response to the covid-19 personnel shortage.

He said approving the emergency staffing proposal would only ensure the town could continue to hire people as needed. However, he said he hopes “covid gets better and staffing becomes pretty consistent” as the town “fights through the remainder of the year.”

“We haven’t used it yet,” Campinha said. “But it’s a tool that will be in our toolbox if needed.”