Mayor??Announces Appointment of Public Works Director
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DONALD R. GREBIEN
PAWTUCKET ??? Mayor Donald R. Grebien announced the appointment of Eric Earls as the City???s Director of Public Works. As the director, he will oversee approximately 80 supervisors and employees and operations including parks, road repaving, storm water management, snow removal, administrative and budgetary responsibilities, and other duties.
???The City has made great progress in updating and investing in its infrastructure, repairing almost fifty percent of its roads over the past 7 years,??? said Mayor Grebien. ???The City and its residents are lucky to have a dedicated team of people at DPW. Eric???s background and experience will be great assets to the City as we keep the positive momentum going, as well as with future development projects such as the train station.??? ??
Mayor Grebien added ???I want to also take the time to thank the managers and staff at the Department of Public Works for continuing to move forward on all projects during this transition. I am also appreciative of the work of Acting Director William Vieira, who will continue at DPW as assistant director.???
Mr. Earls has served as the City Engineer for the City of Warwick for the past five years and prior to that the City Engineer for Newport. During his time with two local municipalities, he has overseen capital improvement projects and budgets, roadway and bridge improvements, storm water management, and numerous other initiatives.
Mr. Earls??? knowledge of local government will give him the background and the knowledge to transition easily, as well as hit the ground running and advise the City on best practices, efficiencies and innovative industry standards.
Prior to municipal government, he was an engineer in the private sector in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and California.??
He will officially start on June 4th.