HADLEY — An acting director is in charge of the town’s Department of Public Works following the resignation of its previous boss after three years at the helm.
Scott McCarthy, field superintendent for the department since May 2019, was recently appointed by the Select Board to serve as acting director through June 30.
McCarthy takes over for Chris Okafor, who oversaw operations beginning in January 2019, but resigned to pursue other employment. The department has 20 employees, with its divisions including highway, water, wastewater, cemetery, and snow and ice treatment and removal.
Select Board Chairman David J. Fill II said he appreciates McCarthy stepping up to run the department, both to handle projects that need to be completed and for the day-to-day business, such as work orders and snow removal.
“I’m excited to have an experienced acting director for the next several months with lots of municipal, as well as private construction experience, to finish up a bunch of projects and priorities that have been languishing for many months,” Fill said.
Before joining the department, McCarthy was a water foreman for the Easthampton Department of Public Works for nearly 15 years and also spent time with the South Deerfield Water Supply District and Dietz Construction.
Okafor, whose contract was set to run until July 1, departed following the Select Board’s Jan. 19 executive session in which it was to negotiate with non-union personnel. Okafor was in attendance at that remote meeting to discuss repairs on a damaged culvert on Knightly Road.