The Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority has restructured its engineering department.

The purpose is to tackle the continuing costs and engineering related to the levee recertification, the water and sanitary and engineering for the East Third Street Gateway project and the stormwater management transfer from the city, according to Steven W. Cappelli, water authority chairman.

“The authority’s engineering department underwent recent restructuring based on administrative and consulting engineer (HRG) review of staffing and production needs,” he said.

A full-time director of engineering is desired, he said.

As part of the restructuring, the authority will continue utilizing the engineering services of HRG as its program manager, while concurrently searching for a full-time director of engineering, Cappelli said.

Cappelli noted the authority has received a memorandum of understanding from the city solidifying its partnership with the Gateway Project and specifying each party’s cost share for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades to East Third and Basin streets.

“The agreement will likely be acted upon by the board on March 27,” Cappelli said.

A second significant project and reason for restructuring the engineering at the authority is the ongoing levee recertification, he said.

The authority has received a letter from the Lycoming County commissioners, on behalf of the Greater Williamsport Area Levee Group.

The letter indicates a need to seek financial support towards levee

infrastructure repair costs, pursuant to the “Systemwide Improvement Framework (SWIF), which remains under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cappelli said he is all but certain the authority will review the commissioners’ request.

“I would anticipate the board’s review and consideration of this request in the near future, as the authority is laboring to reconcile remaining issues associated with the transfer of the city’s stormwater collection system,” he said.

Cappelli said he views the levee and stormwater management transfer as requiring a multi-partner resolution.

“I feel it would be advantageous and beneficial to all stakeholders if we collectively tackle both priorities at the same time if possible,” he said.

Jason Fitzgerald, president of Penn Strategies Inc., the city economic development consulting firm, agreed with the authority’s new direction.

“Clearly there needs to be a focus ensuring all public entities involved in this critical process put their best players on the field, Fitzgerald said.

The authority’s role is critical, he said.

“It will play a role helping to find solutions to our funding needs,” Fitzgerald said.