Oak Harbor council members approved the mayor’s request to hire a temporary employee to help oversee the city’s sewage treatment plant project.

The decision, however, wasn’t unanimous.

Mayor Bob Severns first asked the council May 1 to authorize him to hire Gary Goltz as a part-time, temporary employee. Goltz was the long-time construction manager for both the Oak Harbor and Coupeville school districts and had a history of bringing projects in under budget, Severns said.

Severns said his main concern about the project is cost overruns for the project, which have escalated dramatically over time.

Estimated cost of the new treatment plant is currently $148 million.

Severns proposed hiring Goltz for $125 per hour for an average of 20 hours a week for six months. That would total at least $65,000 in compensation.

But the council members said they wanted more information about what Goltz was going to be doing before they were ready to approve the contract. They ended up pushing the decision to the May 15 meeting in order to give Severns time to bring back a job description.

Last week, council members considered a job description and other information that Severns and Goltz provided. The essential job functions, the description states, include ensuring the project closure process goes smoothly, identifying and focusing on the contingency fund, developing an activity closure plan and six other functions.

Not everyone was convinced by the information.

Councilwoman Tara Hizon wasn’t present, but she had Councilwoman Erica Wasinger read aloud some questions and statements that she wrote.

Hizon questioned whether it made sense to hire someone without experience in the “general contractor-construction manager” process the city used for the project.

Wasinger said she would want to hear a specific example of how Goltz could save money on the project.

“I guess I just don’t understand where the return could come from this,” she said.

Councilman Joel Servatius suggested that hiring an outsider might have an effect on staff morale.

Other council members said hiring Goltz was a good idea. Councilman Rick Almberg said it was smart to have someone on board who had experience closing projects. Councilman Jim Woessner said there’s “a lot of potential” that Goltz’s position could pay for itself through savings.

The measure was passed in a 4-2 vote. Council members Woessner, Almberg, Bill Larsen and Beth Munns voted in favor of the contract. Servatius and Wasinger voted against it.