The search for a new DPS director begins | Local News

NEWBURYPORT — Following the retirement of Public Services Department Director Tony Furnari last month, the city is beginning to look for his replacement.

Furnari retired after 18 years of service to the city.

Deputy Director Jamie Tuccolo temporarily took over from Furnari as interim director, and Mayor Sean Reardon said the city is bringing in the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass-Boston to help the city with the search. of a permanent replacement.

“They have a lot of experience doing this type of research and they’ve done a lot of DPS research as well,” Reardon said. “It was really appealing and we’re just starting that process.”

The mayor added that a search committee should be formed.

Furnari joined the Department of Public Works in 2002. The Salem native left town to take up a similar role at Danvers five years later, but returned to Newburyport in 2009.

Furnari was earning $140,268 a year when he retired and Tuccolo now earns the same as acting director of DPS.

In other city staff news, Barry Salt is now acting deputy fire chief while fire chief Christopher LeClaire remains on paid leave.

LeClaire was placed on paid leave on July 11 and said at the time that he was on paid sick leave and was doing well.

Stephen Bradbury has been acting fire chief since July, and chief of staff Andrew Levine said Salt has also been moved to acting deputy fire chief.

“They’re both running the department right now,” Reardon said.

LeClaire succeeded the late Stephen Cutter as Newburyport Fire Chief in 2014 and Human Resources Director Donna Drelick has confirmed he remains on paid leave.

LeClaire earns $143,963 a year, a salary that Bradbury also earns as acting chief, while Salt earns $135,271 a year as acting deputy fire chief.

Writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached by email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.

Writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached by email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.