Long-time DPW employees announce retirements
Published on January 14th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - It's not often you lose 108 years of experience in one fell swoop, but that's what Department of Public Works Director Robert Grover is facing following the recent retirement announcement of three long-time employees.
Grover recently received the retirements of Richard Powers on February 18, Alfred Minghella on March 4 and John O'Melia on April 30.
Powers, a water/sewer foreman, is leaving after 38 1/2 years; Minghella, a special heavy equipment operator, is retiring after 34 1/2 years and O'Melia, a general foreman, has been with the Stoneham DPW for 35 1/2 years.
"We are losing three valued employees, who were devoted and hard working men," said Grover. "I can only hope that their replacements have the same work ethics that these three men display. We may be gaining someone who is younger and has a stronger back, but we will be losing a wealth of experience."
The town has already requested a civil service list to replace these retirements with positions classified as laborer/truck drivers.
Over a year ago, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting instituted a policy in the DPW that all new employees would have to hold a commercial driver's license to handle the large equipment.
"With such a limited number of employees in this department it is important that everyone be able to perform more than one function," said Grover. "The pay rate is only 50 cents an hour more for a commercial driver's license so it's worth it."
That policy has reportedly come under criticism by some officials, including Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello, who believes it restricts the number of applicants--possibly some from Stoneham. Ciccarello has long been a supporter of hiring Stoneham residents for all municipal jobs.
Of those who have expressed interest in the positions, 10 have commercial driver's licenses and six do not meet the requirement.
The town is in the process of setting up interviews for the top candidates.
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