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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Residents voiced a long list of concerns at last month’s meeting of the Cedar Creek Oversight Committee – lack of preventive maintenance, an alleged policy of retaliation against workers who speak out about the problems at the plant, little transparency and the possible privatization of the Cedar Creek sewage treatment plant.
   
“We’ve been here before,” said Phil Franco, co-chairman of the Cedar Creek Oversight Committee. “It feels like we are going backwards.”
   
Mark Salerno, also co-chairman of the Oversight Committee, peppered the plant supervisors with questions about each department and its ability to keep the plant up-and-running in good condition. Most of the department chairpeople  – operations, generation and electric – are pleased with the progress the plant is making.
   
However, money woes are still plaguing the plant. Terence Hopper, who heads the maintenance department, said, “We are addressing various emergencies as they come up. We’re low on staffing. Part of it is the skill set. We have 20 people but one is in the office and on any given day I probably have no more than 14 working.”  He added that he must prioritize the workload.
   
But Rich Milett, deputy commissioner of public works, defended the progress the plant is making. “It is fiscally imprudent to just keep hiring. It would be a budget buster. We must live within the civil service system and move through the plant in an orderly fashion,” he said. “The plant is fine.”
   
“But we pay for the plant to be maintained,” replied Mr. Franco.
   
“We must adjust how we run the plant,” countered Mr. Milett. “We are still fighting a battle to get critical equipment working.” He pointed to the $70-plus million that has been put into the plant. There are 96 workers in the plant; the budget calls for 100 workers. Four more will be hired, said Mr. Millet.    
   
However, experienced workers are being transferred. Ralph Spagnolo referred to one worker with 25 years  experience  as “a welder and machinist, and you put him in parks. Why?” he asked.
   
“He is in facilities,” said Mr. Milett. “I understand how talented he is but this is a personnel matter and the personnel department will not discuss it at all.”
   
Mr. Franco said other workers in the plant spoke “about intimidation tactics.”
   
One worker agreed. “There is definitely intimidation. I’m always hearing you’re going to lose your job. I can’t prove someone doesn’t like me but I’’ll keep standing up for myself and for the plant.”
   
But Mr. Milett denied these accusations. “If anyone is intimated they should file a  county Department of Public Works’ workplace violence form. We have a process,”  he said.
   
“People are afraid to file that form,” replied Mr. Salerno of the Oversight Committee.

Privatization
Resident Tom Gallagher asked for an update on the possibility of privatizing the sewage treatment plants in Nassau County.  Mr. Milett said the county was “definitely investigating. But my task is to move ahead and let someone else investigate that opportunity.”  Three possible bidders are Veolia, Severn Trent and United Water.   
   
Mr. Milett added that if such a plan were to take place, “the operator would offer jobs to everyone in the plant. There would also be an opportunity in the county. No one would lose their job.”
   
Bobby Campo, a Cedar Creek employee and the plant’s Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) union representative, said “the devil is in the details. They say we are protected but we don’t know. There are stumbling blocks here.”
   
Mr. Gallagher agreed, pointing to the county’s reduction of workers in the Department of Social Services.
   
County Legislator David Denenberg added, “there was no mention of keeping employees in the RFP [Request For Proposals issued to investigate the possibility of a public-private partnership].”
   
“It’s in the MOU [memorandum of understanding],” said Mr. Milett.
   
“We haven’t seen the MOU,” replied Mr. Campo.
   
“It’s not for public consumption,” said Mr. Milett. “When the county selects an operator they’ll do community meetings.”
   
No transparency
Mr. Franco pointed to a lack of transparency regarding privatization of the plants and how the plants are being run. “We want hearings,” he said.
   
Legislator Dennis Dunne promised there would be transparency during this process. “I spoke with Rob Walker [deputy county executive] and he said the process will be crystal clear.”
   
But Mr. Denenberg countered, “The county hired Morgan Stanley [to study the public/private proposal] 18 months ago without hearings. An RFP was issued without a public hearing.”

Residents want results
In closing, Mr. Franco said,  “The answer is  simple – we need people. Man the plant.”
   
But Michael Fassano, a supervisor at Cedar Creek, said “the plant is much better. More equipment is online. It’s a tough place to work and it takes time to hire, get raises and promotions. These guys do an unbelievable job. The equipment is much better than 16 months ago.”
   
One worker declared, “This is still all backwards. I’ve been talking ‘til I’m blue in the face. We need overtime; people have families to feed.”

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.