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David Turocy speaking at a City Council meeting in 2017. He is retiring after a 30-year career in public services.

Pittsfield's Commissioner of Public Services Retiring

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Commissioner of Public Services David Turocy is retiring after a 30-year career.
 
Turocy joined the city in 2015 as commissioner of public services, filling a job that had been created four years earlier but never filled. He came to Pittsfield after serving 11 years as commissioner in Newton. In 2017 his role expanded to take on the role of commissioner of public utilities as well.
 
The commissioner said on Thursday that he will retire in October and will remain in the area. 
 
"My wife retired two years ago, so it's a good time to go out and relax," Turocy said.
 
Turocy began his career in Lexington in March 1989 as highway and drains superintendent, overseeing 17 employees and a budget of a $1 million. In 1996, he took a job in Concord as the highway and grounds superintendent, and the employee number grew to 23 and a budget of $2 million. In 2004, he went to Newton to oversee the highway, engineering, fleet management, and trash collection, overseeing more than 200 employees and a budget of $80 million.
 
In Pittsfield, he oversaw road work, parks maintenance, vehicles, engineering, and the water and wastewater systems. There were some 90 employees working under him and $20 million worth of operating budget, plus numerous capital repairs.
 
The city is now looking for his replacement. The city's job posting seeks somebody with at least a bachelor's degree with a specialization in public or business administration, engineering, construction management, or related field. The candidate should have 10 years or more of experience with at least five in a supervisory role. The position pays about $100,000 per year. 

Tags: DPW,   retirement,   

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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