John Saraceni, left, is now Process Control Director, and Randy R. Ott, PE is Commissioner of WEP.

Promotions at the top

The Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) announces promotions to two senior positions: Randy R. Ott, PE to Commissioner and John Saraceni to Process Control Director.

Randy R. Ott, PE

County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro named Randy R. Ott to the position of Commissioner on March 28, 2007. Mr. Ott took the helm from Richard L. Elander who had been commissioner since 2000.

Mr. Ott has more than 30 years' experience working in the environmental field for WEP. He has a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson University and is a licensed professional engineer in New York State.

In his last position as Process Control Director, Mr. Ott was responsible for managing the operation and maintenance of six wastewater treatment plants, the Department's beneficial use biosolids management program, and a staff of 200. He also served as project manager for the design and construction of the recently completed $129 million state-of-the-art ammonia and phosphorus removal project at the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (Metro). These treatment facilities use the Krüger Biostyr and Actiflo systems and have fostered remarkable improvements in the water quality of Onondaga Lake.

Mr. Ott was also project manager for the design and construction of the $40 million Wetzel Road WWTP/Sawmill Creek Pump Station expansion and upgrade.

John J. Saraceni

Commissioner Ott promoted John J. Saraceni to Process Control Director in June 2007. Mr. Saraceni is a career employee with WEP. He has worked his way up the ranks starting as a Sewage Plant Trainee in 1971. He has a NYS 4A wastewater treatment plant operator's license.

Mr. Saraceni served for the past 20 years as the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent and managed the operation of six treatment plants. During his tenure, he was responsible for many upgrades to WEP facilities. The most recent start-up that he managed was the state-of-the art ammonia and phosphorus removal facility at Metro.

Before that, Mr. Saraceni served as Head Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. In that role, he was responsible for the Baldwinsville-Seneca Knolls Wastewater Treatment Plant and Metro. Mr. Saraceni started-up the Baldwinsville-Seneca Knolls high-purity oxygen activated-sludge plant in 1982.

About WEP

WEP, the department that Mr. Ott now heads, collects and treats 33 billion gallons of wastewater each year. It serves residents and businesses in the County Sanitary District, which includes the City of Syracuse and parts of Lysander, Van Buren, Camillus, Onondaga, DeWitt, Manlius, Pompey, Salina, Geddes, Clay, and Cicero.

WEP also maintains 40 miles of streams and four flood-storage basins in the areas of Bear-Trap Ley Creek, Meadowbrook, Harbor Brook, and Bloody Brook.

WEP's 390 employees operate six treatment plants and over 140 pump and lift stations. The Department also maintains collection sewers.