Glastonbury sewer plant worker suspended over sludge spill

Alex Wood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Nov. 1—GLASTONBURY — A worker in the town's sewage treatment plant was suspended for three days without pay in August over a July 6 incident in which he opened two valves that had been locked out for repairs, accidentally sending some 5,000 gallons of thickened sludge into the building's basement.

Michael J. Bisi, then the town's sanitation superintendent, explained the suspension in an Aug. 2 memo to the employee, Daniel Willis, which the Journal Inquirer obtained through a freedom of information request.

Bisi, who retired this year after a long career with the town, said in the memo that the spill caused unnecessary staff exposure to sewage sludge, overtime costs for cleanup, and "potential equipment and plant operational treatment processing issues."

Bisi informed Willis that his unpaid suspension would run Aug. 24-26.

Bisi also directed Willis to participate in a six-month performance improvement plan, including retraining in plant operations and safety procedures. In addition, the superintendent prohibited Willis from working on-call until he completes the improvement plan and directed him to observe all safety protocols, including not unlocking equipment without authorization from the plant mechanic, plant supervisor, or sanitation superintendent.

An attempt to reach Willis for comment was unsuccessful.

Bisi's memo summarizes a July 8 meeting that included Willis; Dave Burr, the president of AFSCME Local 3946; Water Pollution Control Supervisor Chuck Bohaboy; and Bisi.

The incident at issue occurred when Willis was transferring thickened sludge from one tank to another on July 6, the superintendent wrote. Willis opened two valves that were locked out for repairs, causing the discharge of about 5,000 gallons of the sludge into the building's basement, Bisi said.

He said Willis failed to heed warnings that the thickened sludge pump was out of service, including that it was electrically locked out and mechanically locked out with padlocked chains on two valves. In addition, Bisi wrote, the plant mechanic had told Willis that the pump was out of service, detailed a modified process to transfer the sludge, and explained the consequences of failing to use that process.

The superintendent also wrote that Willis received a written warning in October 2020 for "carelessness and negligence in the performance of your duties."

In a sentence printed in boldface type and underlined, the superintendent warned, "Future unacceptable work performance may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment."

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