Lisbon Taxpayer's Monies To Be Used To Pay DEP Fine For Inept Management Skills!

 Ryan Leighton, Superintendent of Sewer, Public Works Director, Town Engineer, [???]

LISBON TAXPAYERS FORCED TO PAY DEP FINE

Back in May 20, 2011, I wrote the article below titled “BrainDead Management”.  As a result of making Ryan Leighton, Superintendent of Sewer, the town of Lisbon has been informed of current violations by the Department of Environmental Protection resulting in fines of over $22,000 tax dollars for violations of Maine law.  This includes not having a “written operation and maintenance plan” on file.  Having a Standard of Operating (SOP) plan is a basic requirement for a supervisor to ensure everyone understands how to handle all situations that arrive.  A properly trained manager would ensure a “written operation and maintenance plan” was on file and that all employees have read and understand the plan.  The last time, I checked Ryan Leighton was a Grade 2 operator and not qualified to run the operations let alone prepare a “written operation and maintenance plan.”  The state of Maine requires the manager and operations manager be at least a Grade 4 operator because the plant is rated Class 4. 

Now as a result of this incredibly stupid move, the taxpayers are going to be forced to pay additional tax dollars in fines for an incident that could have been prevented with a qualified individual as the Superintendent of Sewer.  When are we ever going to wake up?

May 20, 2011 TLR

BRAIN DEAD MANAGEMENT

The Lisbon Waste Water Treatment Facility is rated 4 by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The facility is currently being operated by Mr. Gerald Kamke, Grade 5 operator and Mr. Steve Aievoli, Grade 4 operator. This meets the criteria of the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. You would think this is great for Lisbon because these two individuals are doing such an outstanding job for the Town of Lisbon.

 Now comes the rub, Mr. E. Ryan Leighton, Grade 2 operator is the Superintendent of the Waste Water Treatment Facility. According to the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection, anyone can be called Superintendent or any name you want to be called but NO ONE can operate the facility unless they are a Grade 4 or 5 operators. So why are we paying Mr. E Ryan Leighton $69,310 to be the Town Engineer and the Superintendent of Waste Water Treatment Plant when Mr. Leighton cannot operate the facility without either Mr. Kamke or Mr. Aievoli being present to supervise him. Who supervises who in this operation?

 Mr. Kamke is the Operations Manager according to the Town of Lisbon Web site and Mr. Leighton is the Superintendent. How can someone who is not qualified to operate the facility be in charge of someone who is qualified according to the State? Only in Lisbon is this possible. In this economic crisis, why don’t we promote Mr. Kamke to Superintendent of the Waste Water Treatment Facility and make Mr. Steve Aievoli the Operations Manager and do away with a superintendent who cannot operate the plant without having one of these two gentlemen present.

 Let’s think about the monies the Town of Lisbon could save by eliminating Mr. Leighton from the chain of command. Instead of creating justification for increasing the pay of a person who is not qualified in a position, promote the actual worker doing the job. This is good management protocol and strengthens the spree de corps in the unit.

Larry Fillmore