After 32 years of service to the Town of Warren, which started as a recycling truck driver and progressed into a role as the longstanding Director of Public Works, Jan Malik smiled as he offered what was certainly a cathartic message to the dispatchers who had called on him for decades, regardless of the hour.

“I would like to thank the dispatchers in the Town of Warren,” he said. “Don’t call me again at two in the morning.”

Malik, who recently retired from his role at DPW, was honored by the Warren Town Council with a recognition of his career of service during their meeting last Tuesday evening, April 12.

Council President John Hanley said that Malik, who represented District 67 in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1997 to 2017, had served as a political mentor for him personally, but did much more for the people of Warren as well.

“He was great for the veterans, he did really great things and was not selfish. He went out of his way to help anybody in any way that he could,” Hanley said.

“In Jan’s case, he has contributed greatly, whether it’s been a member of the Zoning Board, president of Little League, a state rep, obviously, or the highway department,” said state Senator Walter Felag Jr. “You could always count on Jan to be there for people.”

Felag, a former Town Council President in Warren, commented on how municipal jobs like the one Malik worked for decades were not jobs that could simply be clocked in and clocked out of, and relied on the passion of those individuals to truly care for the communities they served.

“These jobs are 24/7,” he said. “It’s really a volunteer-type situation where they take it to heart and do the best job they can because they love the Town of Warren.”

Malik sends thanks, and comments on changing town
Malik began by thanking the members of the Town Council and Town Administrator Kate Michaud for providing funding to allow him to do his job. He also thanked his wife for “putting up with me so many years.”

“It’s been an honor to serve this community through good times and bad times. You’re not always right, but as long as you try to do the best job you can and look yourself in the mirror the next day and say I did the best. I know I’m not keeping everybody happy but I’m keeping the majority happy, that’s all you can do,” he said. “So, again, I’d like to thank all of you in the Town of Warren.”

Malik commented how the town has changed over his career. As he looked out at the crowd in the council chambers, he remarked with good humor, “I don’t know who the hell you are.”

“Warren has changed, and like I said, I want to welcome you all to this great community,” he continued. “If you stay in this community long enough, you’re going to meet a lot of really great people.”

Malik insisted that he would always be willing to help the town out.

“I’m not dead yet, I'll still be around,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do to help this community out, I'll always be there for you.”

Maybe just not at 2 a.m. anymore.