Evening star., 1953-04-04
|Au|d 10 Head
Reorgdniized
Sanitary Unit
D. c. Department t
Set Up in New
StreumIininq Step

Engineering is the second major
step in the reorganization of the
city government. begun last fall
The Commissioners yesterday
approved the reorganization plar
that created the new sanitary
engineering department. They
also approved a plan revamping
the surveyors Office.
David v. Auld. now head OF
the city's water division, was
named director Of the new de-
partment. He is a veteran en-
ploye Of the city.
Frank Healy, now the District
surveyor, will head the new Office
Of the surveyor.
Officials Get Raises.
The Civil Service Commission
authorized establishment of Mr.
Auld's new job at grade GS Is,
at a starting salary of $4,000.
This means about a $4,000 raise
for the new director. In actions
on other "super grades" the csc
also raised Health Officer Daniel
Seckinger one grade to GS II,
$13 600, and one-grade promo
tions to GS Is for Welfare Direc-
tor Gerard NJ. Shea and DR.. P.
A. E. Stebbing, Gallinger Hos
pital superintendent.
The plan for the sanitary en-
gineering department should
result eventually in an annual
savings of more than $500, 900,
the reorganization report stated.
This will result from some reduc-
tions in the number of workers,
plus more economical admins
trative practices.
Another $4,000 Saved.
The savings in the surveyors
office should run about $4,000
annually and even higher, after
internal operations are analyzed
further and improved, the report
predicted.
The Commissioners order cre-
ating the Department of Sani-
tary Engineering will become eff
fective on May "a. The changes
in the surveyors Office will be-
come effective April II.
These two reorganization plans
are the first the Commissioners
have approved since the Depart
ment of General Administration
was created last fall. This de-
partment, headed by Schuyler
Lowe. is doing the reorganiza-
ton work.
BY June 30, the approximately
IS city agencies, boards and de-
partments will be consolidated
into is major departments.
Involves 2,7OO Persons.
The Department Of Sanitary
Engineering actually is a COM
bination of six city agencies now
operating in that general field.
These agencies employe 2,7OO
persons, use nearly TOO vehicles
and spend more than SIS million
year, about 10 per cent of the
District budget.
The deputy director, under Mr..
Auld will be Ralph E. Thurman,
now in charge of the sewage
treatment plant. An office of
business administration will take
over all budget. accounting, per-
sonnel. billing and such under
Raymond Ward. now water reg
istrar.
An Office of planning, design
and engineering will be headed
by Roy L. Orndorff, now assist
ant chief of the water division.
Five divisions were set up.
Xanten Heads 2 Divisions.
William Xanten, now the sani-
tation department head, will
take over control of two of
these new divisions-the santa
ton division and the equipment
division.
Young j. Wright, now chief of
the sewer division, will head
two new divisions, also-the con-
struction and repair division and
the sewer operating division.
Under the reorganization, the
District raised Mr.. Thurman, Mr.
Orndorf. Mr.. Xanten and Mr.
Wright each one salary grade to
GS Is. with starting salary OF
$10.SOO.
Paul Lanham, now in charge
Of the Bryant Street Pumping
Station, will head the water
operations division.
Mr.. Lowe pointed out it will
take several years to complete
the reorganization of the new
Sanitary Engineering Depart
ment. It may be, he said, that
separate division heads will be
named later.
Tribute to Kemp.
Mr.. Lowe paid tribute to the
late Harold Kemp, whose death
recently left the present Sanitary
Engineering Department without
q head. He said studies Of the
department showed remarkable
contributions by Mr.. Kemp to
the city's water and sewage
systems.
Because Mr.. Auld will be TAX
ing a new position, Mr.. Lowe
asked the Commissioners to
delay action on nine other recon-
mendations made in connection
with the revamping of the de-
partment.
Replacement Of old garbage
trucks with more modern ones
which will allow reduction of
the collection force. make
changes on the street hushers
so they can be operated by one
rather than two men, establish
ment Of a modern record system
to show workload, productivity
.and costs.