Milford’s street, water and park superintendent Steven Marquart is pictured at a special town council meeting Monday, Aug. 26. After wastewater superintendent Mark Brubaker’s resignation, Marquart will be stepping into a new role as superintendent of both departments. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Milford Town Council held a special meeting Monday, Aug. 26, to announce the resignation of wastewater superintendent Mark Brubaker. His last day will be Monday, Sept. 2.

“Let it be known we accept his resignation and we wish him well,” said council president Doug Ruch.

In light of Brubaker’s resignation, the wastewater superintendent and street, water and park superintendent positions will be combined into one. The council approved a 10% wage increase for this new position.

Current street, water and park superintendent Steven Marquart will be stepping into the new role.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Marquart said. He plans to take some management classes to aid him with in new responsibilities. “I have all my education and everything I need to run those facilities, it’s just that it’d be nice to have a bit more management.”

Modifications were also made to the job description for Milford’s general labor position. Under the new description, general laborers will now report to the new utilities, street and park superintendent. The employees will also need to sign off on these changes.

Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall received permission to advertise an open town laborer position for four weeks.

Under a new salary ordinance, general laborers wages will remain the same, with a new split between departments of 25% wastewater, 20% water, 5% park and 50% street.

In other business, the council approved an agreement with Astbury Water Technology for twice-weekly wastewater sample testing for one year. The town will collect wastewater samples, which Astbury will pick up and test for oxygen demand at $35 per sample; suspended solids, $18 per sample; ammonia, $18 per sample; phosphorous, $25 per sample; and e. coli, $35 per sample. There is also a $15 pickup fee and an $8 environmental fee. E. coli testing drops off around October, when temperatures are too cold to sustain the bacteria.

An amendment was made to the Commonwealth task order regarding water meter replacement. This was a “zero dollar change,” said Gall. The task order now includes some required language and policy changes according to OCRA grant requirements.

Lastly, the council approved payment of the town’s general liability insurance for the year at a 12.8% increase to $50,954. The town sought a quote from another insurance company this year but could not get one.

The next regular Milford Town Council meeting will be Monday, Sept. 9.