AUBURN -- The City of Auburn will hire a private consultant to take the place of a utilities director for the next year.

The City Council voted Wednesday at its weekly meeting to pay a representative from Amawalk Consulting Inc. to oversee the city's municipal utilities department. Robert Game, from Amawalk, will work with and advise city staff on operation of the water treatment, wastewater treatment and hydropower programs.

According to the resolution, the consultant will be paid $57.05 per hour for 12 months, and his total payment is not to exceed $99,500.

Before council unanimously approved the resolution, City Manager Mark Palesh explained the need for the consultant. The city has been unable to fill its utilities director position, but it faces a number of challenges with the programs the director would oversee, Palesh said.

According to city officials, some of the issues needed to be dealt with include the following: lowering operation costs for the wastewater system, reducing high flows that tax the sewer system during wet weather, improving hydroelectric facilities, making sure sewer and water customers who live outside of the city pay fair rates.

"We are the economic engine for the water and sewer in the surrounding communities," Palesh said.

Councilor William Graney inquired before the vote if the city will have the ability to terminate the contract if the consultant fails to perform to expectations. It is not fair that city residents to pay more for the same water and sewer services than the surrounding municipalities, he said. But this is happening with the current contracts, and the city needs to deal with it sooner than later, Graney said.

"I want things done immediately," Graney said. "We're getting killed on this."

Corporation Counsel John Rossi said the city will be able to terminate the contract if expectations are not met.

For more, read Thursday's Citizen