GREENWICH, CT - The town of Greenwich fleet department technicians received the Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence program. During the 2003-2004 budget process, Betty Linck, fleet director for the town of Greenwich, started a program called Project Blue Seal, which was introduced in the 2005-FY budget. She called 11 other municipalities to compile information about how they handled technicians who earned ASE certification. Linck set up her fleet department’s criteria based on the various responses she received. For instance, if the shift foreman obtained a Master ASE certification, the town of Greenwich would create a new level, one pay grade up to a shift supervisor, eliminating the shift foreman position. The shift supervisors would have to maintain their ASE Master certifications being recertified as a requirement for the job. HD mechanics who obtained four ASE certifications from courses selected by Linck moved up a pay grade to HD vehicle technician status. Technicians who do not recertify drop back a grade. Technicians study and take tests on their own time. All new hires are encouraged to become ASE certified, if they haven’t done so already.