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Official Who Led Hydrant Checks Resigns

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

TAMPA - The city official who supervised the division responsible for checking fire hydrants, replacing meters and fixing pipe breaks has resigned.

Jim Murphy, distribution division manager, left the city effective Nov. 26.

"He came to the conclusion that managing the distribution division was more than he bargained for," said Brad Baird, water department director.

Murphy could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Asked whether he had requested Murphy's resignation, Baird replied: "I'm not going to answer you flat out. We came to the conclusion together that maybe project management would be a better fit for Jim."

Murphy worked in construction project management before coming to the city in January 2006. His city salary was about $103,000.

The responsibilities of the distribution division include maintaining fire hydrants and valves and replacing meters. A Tampa Tribune analysis last summer found the division wasn't inspecting hydrants annually, as required by state law.

An internal audit of the division found meters weren't replaced frequently enough and other preventive maintenance steps weren't taken on a regular basis.

A couple of employees late last year filed grievances against Murphy, complaining their concerns weren't taken seriously.

They said they felt "offended, threatened and intimidated by his nonprofessional behavior," according to the grievance.

"You've got to be patient, you've got to listen to what they're saying," Baird said. "That wasn't happening."

Eli Franco, consumer affairs division manager, takes over Murphy's role.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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