New DPW director 'prioritizing problems' throughout town

Date: 7/14/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM -- Anthony Sylvia of Rhode Island won't officially take over as Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent until July 27 but he's already in Agawam "on a fact finding effort."

Sylvia said he's working with retiring DPW Superintendent John Stone to learn the ropes as well as "prioritizing the problems" in town including the Feeding Hills Sewer Extension Project and deficient fire hydrants.

"Obviously he comes with a great resume and he's already been involved in putting in sewer systems [at previous positions]," Mayor Susan Dawson said. "He's up to speed ... and ready to move [the sewers] forward for installation."

She added that Sylvia was chosen by Dawson's appointed search panel -- Coleen Gruska, director of Human Resources; Deborah Dachos, director of Planning and Community Development; and Stone -- from a pool of 30 applicants for his vast knowledge and experience in the field.

Sylvia has 17 years of experience in the field and previously worked as the director of Public Works in Cranston, R.I. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Roger Williams College and completed master's level work in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University and the University of Rhode Island.

"The guy just had it ... at the end of the interviews he really was the first choice," Dawson said, adding that his experience with sewer installation was also a major selling point.

Sylvia said he's currently involved in a "facility plan review, [which] governs how the town may expand [its] sewer system," meeting with staff and other agencies such as Tighe and Bond, which he called "an excellent resource on how the town has grown."

Sylvia added that he plans to hit the ground running on July 27.