Saugus DPW head staying put

SAUGUS – Despite widespread rumors, Department of Public Works Superintendent Joseph Attubato is not retiring.”I don’t know how these stories get started,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”Attubato has been out of commission with a hip replacement, but returned to work last month. He said he plans to take advantage of some stockpiled vacation time, but he has no plans to retire at least not anytime soon.Not only has he been itching to get back to work, Attubato said he could never leave when there is so much left to do.The Department of Environmental Protection recently gave the town credit for approximately 500,000 gallons toward its water bank after DPW crews found and repaired water leaks equaling 500,000 gallons of water per day. That water was running into the town’s sewer system, costing residents money, but now is not.The repairs have been part of a multi-phase project mandated by the DEP aimed at cleaning up the town’s aged sewer system.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said Attubato and his crew have done an incredible job chasing down leaks.He also said he hadn’t heard the rumors, but he was glad to hear Attubato wasn’t going anywhere.”I wouldn’t let him,” he said.Bisignani said Attubato knows where every manhole, curbstone, curb cut, water line, sewer line, tree trunk and fence post is in town.”You can’t buy that kind of information,” he said. “He’s a good advocate for his department and very dedicated to his job.”Attubato said he thought the rumor might have gotten started because he’s been talking about doing some traveling with his wife.”I just got back to work and I’ve been itching to get back,” he said. “I’ll be using some vacation time here and there but I’m certainly not leaving.”