PEABODY — City engineer Will Paulitz has been appointed acting director of the Department of Public Services.
He replaces outgoing Director Bob LaBossiere, who resigned to accept a position in Winchester.
Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. said he was “very pleased” that Paulitz was willing to take the position.
“We’ll see what the future holds in terms of long term, but it really worked out well to bring Will on for the short term,” said Bettencourt. “He knows the department well, he knows the issues, he knows the city councilors and I think this is a great fit for him in the short term.”
Paulitz has worked as a city engineer for 13 years. A longtime resident of Ipswich, where he lives with his wife Trisha and two sons, Paulitz earned a degree in civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
“I am very much honored that Mayor Bettencourt asked me to lead the department on an interim basis,” said Paulitz. “It’s definitely an honor to take on Bob’s role and I look forward to the transition.”
Paulitz will supervise a staff of 53 employees. He feels he is well-versed in the department, having conducted numerous reviews for the Planning Board and Conservation Commission.
He said the city’s major challenge is traffic congestion and safety. He believes the city has made “significant strides” in the past year with respect to several signalized intersections that have seen equipment upgrades and/or timing adjustments. Among the intersections cited by Paulitz are County and Lynn; County, Lynnfield and Summit; Washington, Lynnfield and Lynn Streets; Washington and Allen’s; Washington, Foster and Swampscott; and Lowell and Prospect.
Additionally, the city has installed rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) throughout the city, which Paulitz said “will aid in pedestrian crossings.”
Bettencourt said that LaBossiere will be missed.
“Bob is leaving on good terms and I expect that he will be advising us on some upcoming future projects,” Bettencourt said. “I think a lot of Bob and it’s tough to see him go, but he was offered a great opportunity with the Town of Winchester. He did terrific work here in the city. He oversaw a tremendous amount of work and projects in the city.”
Bettencourt noted many projects that were successfully completed during LaBossiere’s tenure, including the city’s four-phase, $32 million Clean and Sustainable Water Infrastructure project, which Bettencourt described as “a massive undertaking” designed to modernize the city’s water treatment and distribution systems.
Project improvements included the renovation of the Walsh Water Treatment Plant; a $20 million overhaul and update of the Winona Water Treatment Plant; the installation of a booster pump station on Lowell Street, capable of pumping water from South Peabody to West Peabody; and replacement of the Lowell Street 4.7-mile water transmission main from Lynn Street to Route 1.
The project earned the department recognition as the New England Water Works Association’s 2022 Utility of the Year. Established in 1882, the NEWWA is the leading authority on education, training opportunities and public outreach to protect and improve drinking water and water utility operations
For now, Paulitz’s immediate focus is making a successful transition from winter operations to spring.
“Hopefully that’s what we will be doing,” Paulitz said. “We are already filling potholes so we will continue pothole repairs, as well as get into some sidewalk repairs and Chapter 90 street repaving.”
Paulitz said his first official day as acting director will be Saturday, March 18.
“We run a 24 hours a day, seven days a week department, so with Bob’s last day being March 17, I guess March 18 will be my first. I am grateful to have a great group of employees so I very much look forward to a successful transition,” Paulitz said. “For now, it’s all about keeping things operating smoothly.”
