Wellesley's long-time Public Works director Mike Pakstis retired this week after nearly 19 years with the town, leaving with his own street sign and a promise from his DPW colleagues that they will not bother him during the next blizzard.
Pakstis, who announced his retirement earlier this year, led the department since 2000 and during his time oversaw many significant town projects, among them the renovation of Fuller Brook Park, the Sprague playing fields, the Hunnewell Athletic Complex and the new DPW office.
The DPW is the town's largest department with a staff of 119 and multiple divisions including Engineering, Park and Highway, Water and Sewer, and the Recycling and Disposal Facility. A new DPW director has not yet been named.