Confusion; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
At approx. XA:09 while monitoring radios to assist if and where needed as ramp was closed due to lightning on or near the field I heard the crew operating PAATS (Park At Any Time System) Truck X declare malfunctioning lights and mis-park of and Aircraft X on Gate X-XX.  As this has a protected overhang I proceeded to make my way to verify and assist as I have red tagged this vehicle several times in the past.  En-route I verified it was Truck X.  Upon arriving to the gate/breezeway/overhang; I observed the crew (super-tug crew also operating PAATS  using my assigned equipment for that day repositioning an aircraft to the correct stop mark.  One operating the super-tug; one marshaling (in the open) and directed by manager (in the open) or possibly counseling said crew while the ramp is still closed.This event also exposes several crews to possible unintended COVID exposure.  Super-tug X (PAATS X)  Crew is X-X break room. Supertug Y (Me and my partner) are Y-XY [room].Had I not observed the above I would not have known my equipment was used and to disinfect again. PAATS lights on Truck X have been intermittent and is a known issue.  Though [I] was told it was addressed and on my last user check it functioned it seems to have an issue again.
Approx. XA:10 ramp closed due to lightning.  Thunderstorms called for and predicted.  No plan to staff PAATS (Park At Any Time System).  Call from Operations to close ramps and start parking aircraft.  With several gate numbers and aircraft types but no flight numbers tails or relay of information to flight crews of parking assist frequency to make contact.While Dispatch worked to get second parking assist / APU truck staffed. Management staffed second parking assist / APU with mixed break rooms (COVID precautions). 3 aircraft parked...4th unable due to equipment.  Several others missed due to time staffing/communications issues with making contact to flight crews.
Ground employees reported supertug parking aircraft issues and combining separate parking crews; which undermines current COVID-19 policies.