Stevi loses public works director

by John Dowd

The latest Stevensville Town Council meeting saw friction after the town’s former public works director turned in his resignation. Stephen Lassiter was open about his concerns regarding the town in a follow-up interview. The town, however, declined to comment on the issue, citing personnel matters.

During the Aug. 27 Stevensville Town Council meeting, several concerned citizens stood to speak about general dissatisfaction with the direction of the town and working conditions there. Some described what they characterized as a “toxic working environment” within the town and expressed concern that the mayor was pressuring the council to make unnecessary decisions, such as passing the budget earlier than legally required, leaving less time for discussion.

However, the most concerning item on the agenda was the proposed appointment of a new town employee to temporarily serve as public works director. After the council appointed the employee to the position, Council Member Wally Smith stated, “It’s nice to see someone with the certifications.” However, after Stevensville Mayor Jim Crews read the employee’s resume, it became clear that the certifications were related to operations downstream of a sewer and water system, and, according to Lassiter, did not include the certifications required by the state for the town’s public works operations.

According to Lassiter, the former public works director, the new director’s certifications are entry-level.

Lassiter turned in his resignation last week after becoming concerned that the new employee, who was given his position after he left, was hired at a higher rate of pay than Lassiter had received. Lassiter said he had not received a raise despite having what he considered significantly greater qualifications.

Lassiter said Montana Department of Environmental Quality requirements, as well as federal requirements, mandate municipal wastewater treatment operations and drinking water system management to occur under the supervision of certified operators. The requirements fall under the Montana DEQ Operator Certification Program.

These are laid out under Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 37-42-302. The law establishes requirements for certification of water and wastewater treatment plant operators. Noncompliance can result in fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 per day until the issue is resolved.

Currently, Stevensville employs a private contractor who holds both certifications, Lassiter said, but the town does not have a 

full-time employee with those qualifications. That means, if the town were to lose its contractor, it would have no full-time employee with the appropriate certifications to operate its water and sewer systems.

The certifications are difficult to achieve and can be expensive. Lassiter himself held the appropriate certification for drinking water operations, a process that took him several years and required multiple classes, some of which were held out of town and required overnight stays. Lassiter was also in the process of completing his wastewater certification.

Those certifications represented a significant investment by the town, Lassiter said. Had he completed the wastewater certification, the town would have had a full-time employee certified to operate and supervise both its drinking water and wastewater systems. Meaning, they would not have had to pay additional compensation to a private contractor. 

Lassiter was with the town for four years and was also certified in pool operation and playground safety. Those certifications had expired by the time he left the town, but Lassiter said no one else currently employed by the town has held those certifications or has taken that training.

Since Crews took office, four public works employees, a council member and a planning board member have resigned, according to Lassiter. “Are all of us disgruntled, or does this point to a deeper issue?” Lassiter said.

Lassiter explained his reason for leaving was due to a “perpetually toxic environment” at town hall, which he said was exacerbated after Crews took office. He believes it was a deliberate action to push him out of the town. He also described an environment that was “making it impossible to do my job without throwing up obstacles at every turn.”

Lassiter also expressed concern about the mayor’s policy of lowering sewer and water costs, which he believes is “wholly unrealistic.” Lassiter said the issue has not been discussed since the new mayor took office, and doing so would not consider the bonds the town needs to pay off, the significant rises in treatment chemical costs, the necessary raises in employee salaries and overall inflation.

The Bitterroot Star reached out to the town and Crews for comment. Crews declined to comment on Lassiter’s departure or the allegations, stating, “I cannot discuss personnel issues with you.”

The town records and posts their meetings, virtually, on YouTube. This meeting was posted at the end of last week, at the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDnEaL0UBNM.