Smith named interim Weirton sanitary director
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WEIRTON -- With the city’s utilities director set to retire next month, the Weirton Sanitary Department took action Thursday to set a continuation of managerial oversight, naming Charles Smith as its interim director.
Smith currently holds the position of assistant director for the sanitary system and has been serving as interim assistant water director for the last several months.
With the upcoming retirement of Utilities Director A.D. "Butch" Mastrantoni, there has been discussion about each of the city’s utility operations -- water and sanitary -- having separate directors.
"We have talked, and, I believe the Weirton Area Water Board has talked as well," Mayor Dean Harris, who serves as the Sanitary Board’s chair, said during Thursday’s board meeting. "In order to do that, we have to get our ducks in a row, so to speak, as far as the Sanitary Board is concerned."
Smith would step into the role of interim director effective at 4:01 p.m. Oct. 16, following Thursday’s vote by the Sanitary Board.
Smith accepted the decision.
"I’m fine with it; yes," Smith said.
Board counsel Dan Guida noted, for the time being, the move would result in a vacancy for the position of assistant director for the Sanitary Board, pending any final decision on the director post.
Board Vice Chair Joe Barnabei asked what process would be used to determine a new, permanent director.
"Right now, I think the important thing is to just get somebody in place," Harris said, adding they can consider methods -- including advertising for the position -- at a later time.
Barnabei also asked whether the decision would result in any extra work for Smith.
Smith said he didn’t anticipate having any additional workload as a result of the move, with Mastrantoni adding some of that could depend on any decisions by the Water Board, which is advertising for a new water director but has yet to select an interim director.
"If he’s not doing water, he should have plenty of time," Mastrantoni said.
A decision on a rate of pay for Smith as interim director would be discussed at the Sanitary Board’s next meeting on Oct. 15.