SOUTHWICK – Seven candidates for the Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) were interviewed by the Board of Selectmen this week, offering a range of experience and expertise.
Following three hours of interviews, board members wanted time to review the applicants and hope to make a decision at its Sept. 9 meeting.
Candidates included Stephen D. Been, an assistant deputy of operations with the Springfield DPW, Randal Brown, an engineer and water systems expert for Tighe & Bond, Timothy Durand, a manager of three plants for Lane Construction, Michael McManus, a consulting engineer also with water systems expertise, Michael G. Suprenant, a former DPW director, Andrew Wilkins, a recent college graduate witha master’s in engineering, and Stephen A. Laviqoeur, a longtime DPW manager for the town of South Windsor and assistant DPW supervisor for the City of Hartford.
Two other candidates were scheduled for interviews. One, Earl J. Labonte, did not show up, and the other, Brian J. Walker, thanked the board for the opportunity but accepted a position elsewhere.
All the men were asked the same set of 12 questions by the board in separate interviews, all of which were in open session.
They were asked about their background, management experience, strengths, use of technology, ability to manage five different budgets, management of large work crews, training experience, thoughts on DPW improvement, how to handle a winter storm within a budget, how to deal with personalities and egos, how to deal with a disgruntled employee, and where they see themselves in 10 years. They could then ask questions and offer a closing statement.
Beem, who has worked for he City of Springfield in progressively more responsible positions for 30 years, told the board he had a “good understanding of how to run the department on a daily basis.” He also said he is a person who likes to take a project to completion.
“I enjoy seeing things get done,” he said.
Beem also said because he started at the bottom in the DPW, he has done nearly every job, making him a good candidate for the position because he understands what is expected of the staff.
Beem touted his experience with large work crews of 30 employees and said he has managed budgets for three departments.
When asked about dealing with the different personalities and egos that comes with a department, Beem said it’s not something new to him.
“I deal with this on a daily basis,” he said. “You have to talk with people and take it on a case by case basis.”
Beem told the board he was looking to advance.
“I’m looking for a opportunity to run a department,” he said. “I’m not unhappy where I am, but Southwick is a nice community and I’d like to be given a chance.”
Brown is a Southwick native who said he has been hoping for this opportunity.
“I’ve had my eye on this for a while,” he said.
The 1996 graduate of Southwick-Tolland Regional High School continued his education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and holds a degree in civil engineering. After working in the eastern part of the state, Brown and his wife moved back to Southwick to start their family and he took a position at Tighe & Bond where he said he is known as the water expert.
Brown said his management experience includes being a project manager on numerous large projects for municipalities, where he had to stay on budget.
Brown told the board he sees the DPW director as wearing three hats, including those of an engineer and supervisor.
Using technology is something Brown said is crucial to the job. From GIS to SCADA and smart meters, Brown said technology can advance DPW operations and make them more efficient.
Brown said as far as DPW improvements are concerned, infrastructure is key and he would like to make sure there is a solid capital plan and identify priority projects.
While Brown has no experience with managing winter storm cleanup, he said he believes knowing who you’re working with is the first step in managing a storm well.
“You need to be in close communication and I would have a pre-winter meeting and let everyone know the process,” he said, noting that communication would be important in dealing with personalities and disgruntled employees, as well.
Brown said in 10 years he sees himself as the Southwick DPW director.
“I’m for this town and I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I see myself in this position for a long time.”
Brown told the board he did not have “baggage or any hidden agendas” and truly wants to serve Southwick.
“I would do what’s best for the town and would like to be part of some big decisions to move this town forward,” said Brown.
Durand is also a resident, raising his family in Southwick and said he would like the opportunity to bring his experience to the town.
Durand has moved through the ranks at Lane Construction and now works out of the Berkshires managing three asphalt plants and the crews associated with that work.
“I’ve done a lot of the work you’re looking for,” Durand said, noting projects in infrastructure.
He said working with budgets is “a huge part” of his job and he manages budgets for all three plants. Durand said working with large crews is part of his job and he has several crews working on different projects every day.
Durand said although he has been working in the Berkshires for several years, his recollection of the Southwick DPW as it relates to improvements centers around the different departments within the DPW umbrella.
“There needed to be more intermingling between the departments,” he said.
When asked about preparing for storms, Durand’s first response was that it would depend what day of the week it was because it could involve dealing with the schools and the safety of children, which would be a priority.
“I would drive the streets around town to see how the roads are,” he said, adding he would work with the town and school department together to tackle a storm.
Durand said dealing with various personalities and egos is “the toughest part” of management and that listening to employee concerns would be his first step in handling any situation.
Durand told the board he is looking for a new challenge and would like to use his knowledge to benefit Southwick.
McManus, a consulting engineer since 1999, said in his experience with management, keeping track of schedules and tasks helps a project stay on time and on budget.
“Following up is also important,” he said.
McManus said his strengths include working well with a team of people. He said he has worked closely with Southwick’s water department on projects in the past and he enjoyed good relationships with employees, particularly Richard Grannells, Kevin Soper and Jeffrey Neece.
“I have worked with a lot of water crews and (Southwick’s) is hands-on,” McManus said. “They’re one of the best crews I’ve seen. Kevin goes that extra mile.”
McManus said he is “task-oriented and schedule-focused” and would bring those skills to the position.
As an engineer, McManus said he has not had the opportunity to work with a large crew because of the nature of his job. Training, he said, is also a hands-on part of being an engineer and he has mentored junior engineers through projects.
When asked about managing a storm, McManus joked around, wondering if it was the first storm of the season or last. He said that the main goal was to provide a service to the town and keep the community safe while being conscious of the budget.
Suprenant is a former town engineer and DPW director who said he is looking to utilize his skills for the benefit of the town until his retirement.
‘I began my career in Agawam and I’d like to finish it in Southwick,” he said.
Suprenant has worked in central Massachusetts much of his career and wants to return to his roots and be near family and friends.
He said his management experience in public works has covered all departments and he has numerous strengths, including a background in engineering and management, experience in successful grant writing, and strength in the water and highway departments. He also noted that in a previous position he oversaw the state’s largest fresh water beach.
Suprenant said he has worked with crews of more than 30 people and is a hands-on manager.
“I have gotten behind the wheel of a plow and plowed snow in the middle of the night when I had to,” he said.
He also said public safety was his main concern in dealing with a snow storm. Said he would examine how the town currently manages a storm to find possible cost savings, especially in the area of pre-treatment.
When dealing with egos and personalities and disgruntled employees, Suprenant said he would keep it professional.
“My job is not to solve social problems,” he said. “My job is to make sure they work hard and come back the next day.”
Wilkins graduated from the Science and Technology High School in Springfield then went on to receive an engineering degree from the Maritime Academy and recently received his Master’s. He has been working for the past two years directing the environmental care department at the East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center and said while he has no DPW experience, his engineering background and operations management would serve the town well.
“The Environmental Care Department includes four departments and you have to understand how each relates to the other,” Wilkins said of how his job relates to the DPW position.
He said his job includes the areas of safety and code enforcement and even snow removal. He is responsible for budgets and said technology is an important aspect of the DPW.
Wilkins said the largest crew he has managed was 20 people during the October 2011 storm cleanup.
“On a daily basis I worked with at least 10 different people and I created a system to make the work more efficient,” he said.
His employee training experience includes orientation training for new employees, which included OSHA and safety training.
Wilkins said the biggest improvement he sees for a DPW is in communication between departments so the various departments “can work more steadily and fluidly.”
Wilkins said having a steady crew – as well as a backup plan – would be how he handled storm management. As far as dealing with personalities was concerned, Wilkins said he would earn the trust of the employees and get them on board with the same goals and expectations.
In 10 years, Wilkins said he would like to be Southwick’s DPW director and noted that his leadership abilities and engineering background, as well as his experience as part of a NCAA football team, would go a long way to benefit the DPW.
Laviqoeur said he has been involved in horticulture his entire life, earning a bachelor’s degree in landscape design from the University of Connecticut. He owned his own landscape design firm and later took a position with the South Windsor, Conn. Public Works Parks and Grounds department. He then moved to the City of Hartford as its assistant supervisor of the DPW.
Laviqoeur touted himself as a “team-builder” and said his management style included recognizing individuals for their talents while at the same time having them work with someone they may not like very much.
“I think I’m a good communicator,” he said, “which is probably one of the most important things for a public works department.”
While Laviqoeur said he did not have experience managing five separate budgets, he did create the parks and grounds budget, present it to the town council and manage the department within that budget.
He is experienced with working with crews of 30 workers and during snow events, has worked with up to four vendors and those employees in addition to the department’s crew.
Laviqoeur said he is “a strong believer in training” and said every department can be improved upon.
In dealing with personalities and egos, Laviqoeur said you have to “show a lot of respect and have a lot of patience,” something he said he possesses.
Laviqoeur told the board he is a DPW guy.
“I love working in public works – I’ve found my niche,” he said.”
Laviqoeur added that he is a positive thinker who believes anything can be done when you think about it hard enough.
