Lewes BPW general manager resigns
Austin Calaman, the Lewes Board of Public Works general manager who has led the agency through several large projects and emergencies, has resigned.
Calaman had been assistant general manager for five years prior to the board selecting him for the top job in 2021.
Calaman said his decision to leave was bittersweet.
“I came into BPW not knowing utilities. We built a good team and finished a lot of big projects,” Calaman said.
Those projects include connecting all residents of the Donovan-Smith Manufactured Home Park to water and sewer as part of the annexation deal with the city.
He also navigated the agency through the planned power outage in October 2023 and the unplanned water outage Aug. 20. Both of those incidents required BPW to provide fast, accurate communication with customers.
He said that will be a critical challenge ahead for the agency.
“As the community grew, the board tried to stay up with it, finding ways to communicate with customers,” Calaman said. “[The board] will also have to stay involved with policy makers and communicate on the political side.”
Tom Panetta, BPW board president, was on the panel when it promoted Calaman.
“He leaves big shoes to fill,” Panetta said. “Austin has an amazing ability to understand a situation in a short period of time and follow through on multiple things we have going. You don’t find that in a lot of people.”
Panetta said the board will hold a second special meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, to discuss what the recruitment process will look like. He said they will consider internal and external candidates.
The board is expected to appoint Assistant General Manager Robin Davis as interim GM at that meeting.
The board is also expected to award a bid for a new water tower to be built near Cape Henlopen High School. The water tower was another large project Calaman managed.
Calaman said he, his wife and newborn son are moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. He has accepted a position as director of utilities for Swatara Township, near Harrisburg, Pa. Calaman’s last day will be Friday, Dec. 20.
