New Lewes BPW general manager inherits big projects

The last thing Robin Davis wants to see is his signature on the whiteboard in his office at the Lewes Board of Public Works.

He said it has become a tradition for BPW general managers to sign the board when they leave. But, Davis is just getting started as the new GM.

Davis is now in charge of keeping the lights on and the water flowing in the First Town in the First State.

“Austin [Calaman] and I had been working together for three years, so I don’t think there’s going to be a big shift. The plans are in place and ratepayers should be comfortable with how we’re moving forward,” Davis said.

Calaman, the previous general manager, left in late December. Calaman’s name was the last on that whiteboard.

The BPW board of directors unanimously voted to hire Davis Feb. 26 at a salary of $150,000 per year.

Tom Panetta, board president, called Davis the best qualified candidate out of the five finalists they interviewed.

Davis will now oversee a staff of 20 employees who work on the BPW’s three utilities: water, sewer and electric. They also manage stormwater. 

He had been assistant GM since 2022 and served as interim GM since Calaman’s departure. So, Davis is already familiar with BPW’s big projects and challenges, the biggest being the future of the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

BPW was counting on being part of three-way partnership with Rehoboth Beach and Sussex County to solve its need for a new facility. But, the City of Rehoboth Beach voted against the agreement Feb. 21. It would have allowed the county to connect its Wolfe Neck Regional Wastewater Facility to the city’s ocean outfall and pump up to 5 million gallons per day through the outfall.

“We’re working on other options, probably to see if we can partner with the county again. But that still needs to be worked on,” he said.

BPW will hold a public workshop on the wastewater treatment plant options Tuesday, March 18 at the Rollins Center.

Davis inherits a host of ongoing projects large and small, including the construction of a new water tower and the new water main canal crossing, which he said should be in service in a matter of weeks.

He said replacing aging infrastructure is a top priority.

“Our staff has done a fabulous job keeping up with all of our infrastructure, keeping up with preventative maintenance. So, the reliability is always there,” Davis said.

Davis was born and raised in Milton.

“I’ve been here all my life, and I’ve seen a mess of growth, from open fields to a lot of building going on,” he said.

Davis served more than seven years in the U.S. Air Force. When he got out of the service, Davis went to work for a plumbing company.

After four years of night school and a two-year apprenticeship program, Davis got his master plumbers license and started his own business.

He shifted gears and became Milton’s water department supervisor in 2003, before moving into the town’s building department. He worked for the City of Lewes building department for seven years. He moved to the BPW side in 2021.

Davis said he has begun the search to fill the vacant assistant general manager position.

“I think residents are in good hands. I’m looking forward to keeping the ship moving,” Davis said.