The City of Union is proceeding with efforts to choose a new engineering services provider.
The action comes on the heels of the city commission voting to terminate city engineer Barry Burke’s contract on Sept. 6.
“We’ve got a lot of things going on in public works, especially October,” Commissioner Brian Garner said during Monday’s city commission session. “Probably the most significant thing we’re working on is we’re going to iron out the process for selecting new engineering services.”
There have been meetings to address an approach to locating an engineering firm, officials said.
“Basically, go with different proposals, review them and by the end of October make a recommendation so at the Nov. 6 meeting we can proceed that way,” Garner said. “It is going to be part of that continuous shift. We’re going from the old way with a single point of contact to the new way, where it’ll probably be a larger firm.”
Burke was paid $115 per hour and worked solely in a contractural capacity during his tenure, Union City Administrator Amy Safran told LINK nky. Burke was informed Sept. 7 that his contract would be terminated effective Oct. 7.
“The hope is minimal cost,” Garner said with regard to the engineering services search. “At the end of the day, for me, the important part is only paying for what we need. I think it’ll be good for the city.”
Burke filled the city engineer role for 19 years.
“Play it out, see how it goes out,” Mayor Larry Solomon said.