City fills Water Department superintendent position

The city of Watertown has promoted a longtime wastewater treatment plant operator to head the Water Department.

The City Council agreed Monday night to promote Michael J. Sligar to water superintendent to succeed Gary E. Pilon. It approved a resolution setting his annual salary at $82,000. In addition to heading the Water Department, he will oversee the wastewater treatment plant and the city’s hydroelectric plant. Mr. Sligar has worked for the city for 30 years.

Council members also agreed to promote wastewater treatment worker R. Mark Crandall to a new operator position with an annual salary of $65,000.

City Manager Mary M. Corriveau made the appointments, while council members set the salaries.

The promotions came as a result of council members negating a plan to put Mr. Pilon’s position under the helm of the city engineer’s office and no longer have it be a department head. The matter surfaced as a result of Mr. Pilon’s retirement last year. He has been filling the void by working for the city as a consultant.