Mayor Donald F. Humason, Jr. presents DPW Director David Billips a citation on his retirement Oct. 30, after 17 years of service. (KIM BILLIPS PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – City of Westfield officials and Department of Public Works employees honored Director David Billips on his last day of work Oct. 30.
Billips retired after 17 years serving the city’s DPW. The event, originally planned for the Municipal Park, was moved indoors to the Sackett Street garage due to a fittingly early snowstorm that marked the occasion.
Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. thanked Billips, who was wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt, for his service, and State Sen. John C. Velis presented him with a commendation from the Commonwealth. ArtWorks, represented by Cheryl Crowe, presented him with a photo, thanking him and the DPW for their support of city events.
DPW employees, who could not all attend the indoor ceremony, did a drive by of 30 fleet vehicles with lights flashing and horns honking, before going out to work.
The gift given to him by DPW employees was the most personal, a plaque with a flag that flew over the Elmendorf Base-Fort Richardson, Alaska. Billips said his father was stationed there with the family in 1964 when the 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck.
Now Interim DPW Director Francis Cain presents David Billips with a gift from employees on his last day. (KIM BILLIPS PHOTO)
“I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished; water, stormwater, improvement of roads, upgrading of equipment. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with,” Billips said following the ceremony, adding, “People don’t realize that public works employees impact you every single day – clearing the roads, picking up trash, and providing clean water.”
“We have a good team. The city will be well served by these people,” Billips said. The city also announced over the weekend that Assistant DPW Director Francis Cain will take over as interim director, effective immediately.
“Dave was an outstanding boss to his employees. He’s the kind of guy that gives them the tools they need to do the job. He did everything he could for the city,” Cain said.
DPW Secretary Joanna Williams and Retiring Director David Billips. (KIM BILLIPS PHOTO)
A search for a new director is being conducted by a joint committee of the Water Commission and the Board of Public Works.
Asked what the biggest challenges for the department are going forward, Billips listed finances and the aging infrastructure in the city, which has pipes and water mains well over 80 years old, some 100 years old. “Since state aid was cut back years ago, cities and towns don’t have enough money to do the things they need to do,” Billips said when he announced his impending retirement back in January. “With aging infrastructure, it’s difficult to keep up.”
BIllips said he and his wife Kim, who retired from the City of Chicopee in May, plan to travel and spend time with their grandchildren, but may have to wait until after the pandemic. He said they already had to cancel some of the trips they had planned.
DPW sign flashing well wishes to David Billips on his last day, Oct. 30. (KIM BILLIPS PHOTO)
