The Newman City Council gave City Manager Michael Holland the approval to bring on a new public works director.

The Council voted 3-0 to offer an employment contract to Thomas Spankowski to fill the empty position. Mayor Casey Graham was absent.

The Department Head position had been vacant since the passing of Kathryn Reyes in January of this year.

The role of public works director takes on many tasks, including plans, organizes, manages, and provides administrative direction and oversight for all functions and activities of the public works department. Within this, there is the construction, maintenance, and repair of City streets, buildings, parks, water and wastewater systems, and related equipment and infrastructure. The positions also formulates departmental policies, goals, and directives; coordinates assigned activities with other City departments, officials, outside agencies, and the public; fosters cooperative working relationships among City departments and with intergovernmental, regulatory agencies, and various public and private groups; and provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the City Manager in areas of expertise.

Holland said the City had around 10 applicants for the position and lined up interviews with five candidates. A total of four replied and were interviewed by a panel of local leaders and officials. Of the four, two were recommended to the city manager and he interviewed them both. Holland said they were both impressive candidates and really liked that Spankowski was a graduate of UC Merced and “he knows our community well,” Holland said.

Under the proposed employment agreements, Spankowski will begin work with the City on Aug. 5 and his pay will be at step level C which is $12,035 per month. The terms of the agreement expire July 31, 2043, unless otherwise terminated earlier or where both parties agree in writing to extend it, or Spankowski opts to resign.

Spankowski’s LinkedIn profile lists his most recent employer as the Alameda County Water District, where he worked as an environmental engineer. He earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering from UC Merced in 2016

“It’s an important position with the city and I think he will do a great job,” Holland said.