Checkered past raises eyebrows on the appointment, doubts on ‘search’
Updated: The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department has a new director, another refugee from Miami Beach government. And critics say former Miami Beach Public Works Director Roy Coley is not ready for prime time.
Coley was appointed as the new WASA director Tuesday by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, but everyone believes he was brought in by former Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales, now the county Chief Operations Officer.
The mayor said in her memo to commissioners that this comes “after successfully conducting a national and local recruitment,” but Ladra has known about Coley’s appointment since at least mid March. How legitimate was that search? Was there a headhunter hired? Or just an ad in LinkedIn?
Read related: Jimmy Morales leaves Miami Beach early for Miami-Dade and La Alcaldesa
Coley starts officially May 17 and takes over for Kevin Lynskey, who has been the WASA Director since 2018 but has worked in some capacity at the county, mostly at PortMiami, since 1994. No word on where he’s going or what Coley’s salary will be. But Lynskey leaves having made $291,000 last year.
“I am thrilled to welcome Roy to this critical role overseeing the work of our Water and Sewer Department, which is at the center of our public and environmental health,” Levine Cava says in the memo to commissioners. “Roy brings more than 20 years of excellence in water operations to the County, including the start-up and operations of high-quality drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, capital improvement plan implementation, septic to sewer conversion, and more.
“During his tenure with the City of Miami Beach, Roy also helped spearhead globally recognized sea level rise adaptation projects and efforts to reduce pollution and protect Biscayne Bay. He is a forward-thinking leader who will ensure that WASD not only continues to meet the highest water quality standards, but also develops water systems better prepared to withstand the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.”
Excellence in water operations? Really? Not everybody thinks so.
The new Miami Beach Inspector General, Joe Centorino, wrote a scathing report earlier this year about the city’s prolonged delays and cost increases in the first residential project to mitigate sea level rise.
The 141-page report — with 177 pages of appendices and exhibits — paint a picture of a complex project which developed on a moving target: Both changing sea level rise projections and changing policy direction from electeds. Centorino found “mismanagement and misconduct” in the process and said the city intentionally misled DERM and others in the connection of more than 100 side-yard drain pipes.
The city responded that there was no official intention to conceal changes to the project. Centorino called that “a legal fiction.”
In his defense, Coley said inherited the problems when he became public works director in 2018. So, then, why does his resumé say he’s been the director since 2015? Doesn’t anyone in the mayor’s office vet these people?
Because that’s not all.
Coley — who was once the mayor of Falkville, Alabama — also has an unfortunate past with septic tanks, one of the main issues the mayor and many commissioners want to address in the next four years.
Septic to sewer conversion is a county priority. But in 2003, Coley was arrested and charged with violating state public health laws in connection with a failed sewer system at his business, a Chevron gas station on Interstate 65. The Morgan County Health Department said the septic tank failed repeatedly.
But what bothers many WASA employees the most is that their chosen leader, once again, is not a professional engineer.
Read related: Daniella Levine Cava wastes no time to hire, meet with staff
“We need competent professionals who, at least, are licensed engineers to lead during such tough times,” said a WASA employee who did not want his name to be used. “The mess we have is a result of the last few directors not having been professional engineers. “
Coley also worked as director of operations for the Florida Keys Aquaduct Authority. He joined the city of Miami Beach in 2015 as the deputy public works director and was promoted to director in 2018 (despite his resume saying otherwise) to replace Eric Carpenter, who became the assistant city manager.
He’s been credited with the new network of pump stations that have diminished the effects of King Tide in Miami Beach.
Morales, who did not return calls and texts about this appointment — even though everyone knows he is the one who made it happen — trusts Coley.
“Whether it’s collaborating with the Environmental Department to deliver a complex security lighting system in a delicate environment or leading the city in its effort to remove over 150,000 cubic yards of debris following Hurricane Irma, Mr. Coley has proved himself to be an innovative and transformational leader,” Morales said in 2018, when Coley was promoted.
“I’m confident he’ll take the city to even greater heights in his new role as he oversees one of our largest service departments.”
What about even greater heights in this new role?
Miami Beach Public Works director is new Miami-Dade WASA lackey, er, boss added by Ladra on
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