Barrington DPW director retires after 40 years with town

Longtime town worker Joe Piccerelli says goodbye

BY Joan D. Warren
Posted 2/21/18

Joe Piccerelli is ending his more than 40-year career with the Barrington Department of Public Works. His last day is Friday, Feb. 23.

He worked his way up, starting on the back of a rubbish truck …

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Barrington DPW director retires after 40 years with town

Longtime town worker Joe Piccerelli says goodbye

Posted

Joe Piccerelli is ending his more than 40-year career with the Barrington Department of Public Works. His last day is Friday, Feb. 23.

He worked his way up, starting on the back of a rubbish truck and eventually serving as director of the department.

Over the years, Mr. Piccerelli has had his hand in almost every aspect of the department, including carpentry, plumbing, minor electrical work and general maintenance of town properties. For the past decade or so he has been the second in command of the department with a title of superintendent. He was formally assigned as director about a year and a half ago.

It is a bittersweet transition for the Barrington native and 1970 graduate of Barrington High School.

“I’ve been coming to work here since Nov. 1977, it will be strange on Monday when I don’t have to be here. I can sleep in,” he said.

Joe “Picc” as he is known by co-workers and friends, is a soft-spoken man of few words. His presence will be missed by co-workers and community members alike.

Bobby “Bubba” Cioe, a 35-year DPW employee, said he and the “guys” will miss Joe when he leaves.

“Joe is a great guy and we will miss him. He was there on my first day on the job on the trash truck and it’s been a pleasure working with him all these years,” Mr. Cioe said.

The DPW has gone through many changes over Mr. Piccerelli's tenure, including the town’s increased recycling program, an initiative he was a part of since the 1980s as a recovery agent.

“Back in the mid 1980s we were marketing our own materials and we would take the glass to Dayville, Conn. monthly. Back then there were bins at the recycling center for different colored glass, aluminum and paper. Since then we have grown the program and have been one of the top recycling communities in the state,” he said.

Another change that has made a difference in the way the department operates is the out-sourcing of refuse pickup.

“Since we privatized, the town has saved quite a bit of money. We eliminated the cost of equipment replacement, maintenance and manpower. We had four rubbish trucks and two recycling trucks that needed routine maintenance and capital appropriations for replacements. That and manpower was a constant issue,” he said.

Mr. Piccerelli said the DPW handles a variety of tasks, including cleanup efforts following storms.

“It’s a non-stop department. We have something going on at all times,” he said.
Town field maintenance is one of the ongoing tasks the DPW handles.
A big change, and a welcome one at that, has been the addition of irrigation on many town playing fields.

“The fields get used by the schools and town leagues more efficiently due to the irrigation so we are constantly out there doing our best to keep them in good shape,” he said.

Family and friends gathered for a retirement party in Mr. Piccerelli's honor on Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Wharf Tavern Restaurant.

Other than sleeping in, he plans to spend more time on the golf course, traveling and with his four grandchildren.

Mr. Piccerelli will be replaced by former DPW director Alan Corvi, who returns to the position after leaving Barrington for a position in Swansea.

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