Watertown has a new Public Works Director. Find out more about him in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown.
Watertown City Manager George Proakis is excited to announce the hiring of Thomas Brady as the new Director of Public Works!
Mr. Brady returns to Watertown after 23 years with the Town of Brookline where he served as a key member of the Brookline Department of Public Works (DPW) team in the role of Urban Forestry Manager, Tree Warden and Town Arborist. Tom has overseen forestry operations, coordinated storm responses, provided oversight for utility projects, and represented Brookline on the extensive Muddy River Restoration Project – a 20-year $70 million public works improvement on the Boston/Brookline line that served the combined roles of addressing flood control, water quality improvement, conservation and historic preservation.
Mr. Brady also served as Accreditation Manager for the Brookline DPW where he has been instrumental in Brookline receiving its American Public Works Association (APWA) accreditation, a recognition of public works departments that are fully compliant with recommended management practices and highly effective operations. When Brookline first received this honor, in 2011, Brookline was the first public works department in New England to receive accreditation. Since then, Brady has led the effort to be reaccredited three times – most recently in 2023. Brookline remains one of only three public works agencies in Massachusetts to receive the accreditation. Mr. Brady now serves as one of APWA’s accreditation site evaluators, where he joins teams that visit public works departments across the country seeking to achieve accreditation and assesses their success at meeting APWA standards. This has given him an extensive understanding of DPW best practices nationwide.
While the process for APWA accreditation takes many years, City Manager George Proakis is committed to having Watertown use APWA best practices while making progress towards the ultimate goal of accreditation. City Manager George Proakis can’t wait to see where the incoming Director of Public Works can bring the department: “Tom has been a leader in one of the highest functioning DPWs in all of Massachusetts. He has played a significant role in setting that standard and achieving a highly sought-after accreditation. Accreditation is a goal for Watertown that will allow our DPW to join the best public works departments in the United States, focusing on continuous improvement, operational performance, team building, standard operating procedures, and increased efficiencies. I am sure that Tom will build upon the great work that our DPW has done in recent years, and lead our City to eventually joining this elite group of accredited public works departments.”
When Brady begins on January 21, 2025, he will oversee a staff of 60 and a budget exceeding $35 million between its General and Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds. He will also be a leader in the City’s $70 million Capital Improvement Program over the next five years to reconstruct streets and sidewalks and implement its complete streets strategy.
A certified arborist and qualified tree warden, Brady served as Watertown’s Conservation Agent, Historic Preservation Agent and first Tree Warden from 1996 to 2000. Brady has been recognized for his work, in 2021 as Massachusetts Conservation Agent of the Year, and this year with the Rita Barron Public Official Award from the Charles River Watershed Association. With extensive management and leadership experience in public works, he returns to Watertown at an exciting time for the city.
Welcome back to Watertown, Tom!
Such good news for Watertown and Watertown’s urban forest! Tom Brady’s APWA accreditation goal for Watertown is terrific. AND our next DPW Director has deep professional understanding of the importance of maintaining a healthy, long-lived population of shade trees. This is priceless.
Libby Shaw
Trees for Watertown