With the City Council about to consider a plan that would do away with the need for the Public Works Director to have a licensed engineering degree, Houston’s public works management is about to undergo a major transformation. Since Randall Macchi, a lawyer by profession and Houston Public Works’ Chief Operating Officer, has been sharing the position of interim public works director, if this is accepted, he will be able to take over the entire title.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has voiced their reservations about this planned modification. According to the Houston Chronicle, the ASCE cautions that lowering the engineering standard could have negative effects on welfare, public health, and safety in a letter to Mayor Whitmire. The president of ASCE, Feniosky Pe a-Mora, stressed the significance of having a licensed engineer in charge of “the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of engineered public infrastructure systems.”
Numerous industry voices have expressed their opinions in the public sphere as the conversation has developed. In an article by ABC13, the CEO of the American Public Works Association reminded us that cities in America function differently, pointing to Houston’s particular difficulties with flooding, hurricanes, and the vital services that the public works provides during situations like COVID-19.
The city engineer will be in charge of approving engineering-related decisions, according to an email sent by Chris Newport, Chief of Staff for the Mayor’s office, in response to the concerns expressed. Some experts in the field still voice concerns in spite of this. If the director is not a licensed engineer, David Hagy of the American Council of Engineering Companies’ Houston chapter proposed keeping the provision as is or expanding the municipal engineer’s responsibilities to assure compliance.
At its meeting today, the Houston City Council will talk about a possible ordinance amendment. The Public Works Department may be impacted by the judgment, but it may also bring up more general issues regarding the value of professional knowledge in overseeing the city’s infrastructure.
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