Lee Agger Award

Founders Award

Maine DEP Outstanding Achievement

Founders Award

On Thursday, September 15, 2011, Arthur Robinson, Chief Operator of the Gardiner Wastewater Treatment Facility was recognized for outstanding service to his community and to the profession of wastewater treatment plant operation for seven years. Arthur was announced as the fifth recipient of the Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee (JETCC) Founder's Award during the Maine Wastewater Control Association's annual convention at Sugarloaf USA in Carrabassett Valley.  The award was presented by JETCC's Training Coordinator, Leeann Hanson. The JETCC Founder's Award is given annually to an operator, maintenance worker or laboratory personnel working in a municipal or industrial wastewater treatment system in Maine. Art has been employed at Gardiner Wastewater Treatment Facility since 2004 when he started as a part-time operator. He also has been the Lab Technician at Gardiner and was promoted to the Chief Operator position just one year ago. Over the past two years, Art has trained and mentored several new staff members, filled in for the Chief Operator during times of absence, and worked plant duty almost every other weekend ensuring essential plant functions were complete.  Art is always willing to share his knowledge, listen to new ideas and work to improve plant efficiency and performance.  Art continues to improve his own knowledge and the knowledge of junior staff at the facility.  He works one on one with new operators to continuously improve their knowledge and capabilities of operating and maintaining the plant. Art has been active in Maine Wastewater Control Association's Operator Exchange Program. He visited Rhode Island for several days and learned about many new technologies designed to remove nutrients. He has also hosted out of state operators visiting Maine treatment plants throughout the state. Art is also proactive in educating young people about our industry as he conducts multiple facility tours for area schools and includes each staff member who explaining their area of operation and responsibility at the plant. When one West Gardiner school had reduced its field trip budget, Art put together a program and took it directly to the students in a classroom presentation. According to Gardiner's Wastewater Superintendent, Chuck Applebee, "Art's knowledge, dedication, willingness to learn then share information and his continuous improvement attitude make him an outstanding member of the City of Gardiner WW Treatment Staff and an excellent candidate for the JETCC Founder's Award.  Art is truly the 'right-hand man'.  With Art, it is done, it is done as a team, it is done once and it is done right!"  The City of Gardiner recognizes, applauds and appreciates all of Art's accomplishments and efforts.

JETCC Founders Award Previous Winners