JEFF NEECE
SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen is in “no rush” to find a replacement for Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jeffrey Neece.
Neece resigned earlier this month for personal reasons. His last day on the job was Friday.
Selectman Russell Fox said the position would be advertised in numerous newspapers and in other municipalities.
“We agreed we’re not going to rush to fill it,” said Fox. “We want to take our time and hopefully have a large pool of candidates.”
Fox said labor counsel reviewed the job description and made what Fox called “minor changes.”
“He made a couple of suggestions, but nothing major has changed,” said Fox.
Selectwoman Tracy Cesan voted against the job description because a Bachelor’s degree was not required, but preferred.
Fox and former Chairman Arthur Pinnell voted in favor of the job description without the degree requirement. Necessary requirements include three or more years of supervisory work in a DPW environment.
Until a new director is hired, Fox said DPW Engineer Richard Granells and DPW Supervisor Douglas Seibert are filling the gap.
“We also have a part-time town planner who is helping out with the Lexington Circle project,” said Fox. “The chain of command starts with Karl (Stinehart, Southwick’s chief administrative officer), and Dick and Doug are assisting. We are lining up summer projects, so the transition will go as smooth as possible.”
“People are not going to notice any lapse,” he said.
Fox said Grannells has been doing a lot of the long-range planning for the department already.
“We have a feeling that there is no need to rush – let’s do it right,” said Fox.
Friday was also the last day for Police Chief Mark Krynicki, who retired. Longtime Council On Aging Director Jeanne Margarites also retired this month, and Accountant Linda Carr is set to retire this summer. Veteran Southwick Police Lt. David Ricardi was hired as the new chief, and assistant town accountant Carol DellaGiustina will take over as the head accountant. The Council is conducting a search to replace Margarites.
Stinehart said there is no standard process for hiring across the town.
“It’s up to the discretion of the board,” said Stinehart. “We’re not a civil service town so we are not handcuffed to a process.”
Stinehart said in the case of filling Carr’s seat, DellaGiustina was qualified, experienced, and expressed interest.
“It was the same with Lt. Ricardi – the board made a logical decision,” he said.
Because the DPW is small, Stinehart said the board wants to have the largest pool – from inside and outside the department – that it can. He added that each position is different and the board decides how to best fill vacancies.
