FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2013
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Mayor Miro Weinberger Appoints Assistant Director of Public Works Norman J. Baldwin, P.E. as City Engineer and Surveyor
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Norman J. Baldwin, P.E., a 22-year veteran of the Department of Public Works (DPW) as City Engineer and Surveyor. Baldwin currently serves as Assistant Director of Public Works for DPW’s Technical Services Division. The City Engineer and Surveyor position will become open on August 26, 2013 upon the retirement of current DPW Director Steve Goodkind. Goodkind, who has served as DPW Director since 1999, also has served as City Engineer and Surveyor since 1983. Weinberger has asked the City Council to approve Baldwin’s appointment at its August 12, 2013 meeting. If approved, Baldwin would begin serving on August 26, 2013, the same day on which Chapin Spencer begins work as the new DPW Director.
“Norm is highly-qualified for this appointment and has a proven track record as a dedicated and focused leader who understands our City’s infrastructure and knows how to play a key role in moving complex projects from start to finish,” said Weinberger at an afternoon announcement at DPW’s Pine Street facility. “I am confident that Norm will do a great job taking on the added responsibilities that come with the City Engineer and Surveyor position, and his appointment will give DPW and the City important continuity during a time of transition at the Director level.”
“I am both humbled and honored that Mayor Weinberger has the confidence in me to tackle the added duties as City Engineer and Surveyor,” said Baldwin. “I am very fortunate to have learned so much about our Department and this new role from Director Steve Goodkind, and I thank him for his guidance over the years. I look forward to continuing to serve our City as an Assistant Director and as City Engineer and Surveyor and to continuing to work with our talented DPW team and will do all I can to help ensure a smooth transition for incoming Director Chapin Spencer.”
Although out of town and unable to attend today’s announcement, retiring DPW Director Steve Goodkind shared: “Norm is a first-rate public servant. He’s smart, talented, cares about our City and understands how our City infrastructure works. I know he will make a fine City Engineer and Surveyor – Burlington will be in good hands with Norm as our City Engineer.”
At today’s announcement, incoming DPW Director Chapin Spencer added: “For more than two decades, Norm has served our community through his work at DPW, rising through the ranks to earn a top leadership spot as one of DPW’s assistant directors, a position he has held for the past 13 years. I feel fortunate that Norm will be handling the important responsibilities that come with the City Engineer and Surveyor post.”
Also not present for the announcement was Nathan Lavery, Chair of the Burlington Public Works Commission, who stated: “Norm Baldwin is the right choice at this time to serve as Burlington’s City Engineer and Surveyor. His skills have been honed by years of hard work as one of our City’s engineers – the move to City Engineer makes sense and will serve our City well.”
Please see appended and attached documents, including:
- Memorandum from Mayor Miro Weinberger to City Councilors requesting approval of the appointment of Norman J. Baldwin, P.E. as City Engineer and Surveyor (below)
- Relevant City Charter provisions, including those that detail the responsibilities of the City Engineer and Surveyor (attached)
- Resume of Norman J. Baldwin, P.E. (attached)
MEMORANDUM
To: City Councilors
From: Mayor Miro Weinberger
Date: August 4, 2013
Re: Appointment of City Engineer and Surveyor
I respectfully submit for your consideration and approval Norman J. Baldwin, P.E. as the City Engineer and Surveyor for the City of Burlington. I am requesting City Council approval of this appointment at your August 12, 2013 meeting.
This appointment is necessitated by the approaching retirement of current Department of Public Works (DPW) Director and City Engineer and Surveyor Steven Goodkind. Steve has had a long and dedicated career serving our City. Steve’s appointment as City Engineer and Surveyor began in 1983, and he continued fulfilling the duties of City Engineer and Surveyor described in the City Charter when he later was promoted to be the Director. (The relevant City Charter sections listing these duties are attached.)
Norm is highly qualified for this appointment. In his current Assistant Director role, he has worked very closely with Steve, advising and consulting with him on City Engineering and Surveying decisions. Norm also has extensive experience with and understanding of the City’s infrastructure. Since graduating from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1990, Norm has spent his entire career in Burlington’s DPW in a variety of roles demonstrating outstanding commitment to the City. (Norm’s resume is attached.)
This appointment will give the department and the City important continuity during a time of transition at the Director level.
If confirmed, Norm will assume the City Engineer and Surveyor responsibilities when Steve’s retirement becomes effective on August 26, 2013, and he will perform them while continuing to serve as DPW’s Assistant Director of Public Works -Technical Services.
The Mayor’s Office has worked closely with Norm throughout my time in office on the restoration of the Bike Path, Waterfront Access North, the Champlain Parkway, and other important projects. I have great personal confidence that Norm will succeed in this new role. In addition, I have consulted on this decision with both Steve and incoming DPW Director Chapin Spencer, as well as with Public Works Commission Chair Nathan Lavery. All three are highly supportive of Norm’s appointment as City Engineer and Surveyor.
Therefore, I am requesting that the Council take two formal actions with respect to this appointment:
- Confirm Norman J. Baldwin, P.E. as City Engineer and Surveyor; and
- Reclassify the Assistant Director of Public Works -Technical Services position to acknowledge the additional responsibilities Norm will be handling.
The reclassification will include a $4,429 annualized salary increase for the position, which will be covered by the $7,611 savings realized by the new DPW Director being placed at step one of the salary range ($88,845) while the outgoing Director was at step six ($96,456), resulting in a net savings of $3,182.
In the event the duties of City Engineer and Surveyor subsequently are assigned to another position(s) within DPW, the Assistant Director of Public Works -Technical Services position will be returned to its current classification. Additional information on the reclassification can be found in the attached materials from Human Resources.
Thank you for your consideration of Norm Baldwin as Burlington’s next City Engineer and Surveyor.
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