Skills and Thrills owner Catherine Sinkel had a booth at the DPW Open House to promote her business and show her support for the town.

Story & photos by Kristen Levine

The Department of Public Works celebrated the completion of their new facility by throwing open the doors to the public with a festive Open House on Monday. Offering free food, games, and an atmosphere of community, the Open House was meant as a big thank-you to the town and its residents, whose support made the DPW renovation possible.

    “We had the whole concept for seven or eight years,” said DPW Director Jack Rodriquenz. “We recognized the substandard conditions; it was unsafe and not efficient.”

    These unsafe conditions, including a lack of proper ventilation for the diesel smoke emitted by DPW equipment, were the catalyst for the town to take action and push for building renovations.

    “I want to give the most sincere thank you to all the people who worked on this building,” he said. “Those that helped us along the way and volunteered, and especially residents. It’s their tax dollars that paid for this.”

    Building conditions were radically improved to protect the health, comfort and well-being of DPW workers.

    “This is a professional space where we can interact with other professionals,” Rodriquenz said, praising the building’s updated office space, which has been outfitted to provide a comfortable working environment.

    The DPW garage, once small, unheated and unventilated, now shield equipment from the elements and guarantee an extension of their effectiveness and lifespan.

    “[With the old building] things were left outside, and things were frozen in winter, which decreased our effectiveness and response time,” Rodriquenz said. “Now, we have an environment that extends the life of our fleet.”

    The Open House welcomed town residents to see what their tax dollars had paid for, featuring booths from several town organizations, free food, and a fun atmosphere. Over 100 people were in attendance within the first hour.   

     
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