By Seth Daniel
Joe Foti, former Department of Public Works (DPW) director, has left his position once again, this time for a top job at the state Department of Transportation (DOT).
“We’re disappointed, but we are now in the process of looking for a new director,” said City Manager Tom Ambrosino. “Bert Taverna of the DPW is the acting director. He’s been around the city and is a Chelsea guy and he’ll be filling in.”
Foti left the City last year in October 2015 for the DPW director’s position in Peabody, but returned to Chelsea by January 2016 in his old job. Ambrosino said Foti had an offer that was too good to refuse, as he is now one of the senior officials at the DOT, below Under secretary Tom Tinlin.
Ambrosino said DPW director positions are hard to fill, but that they have received a number of resumes.
He said Taverna is a candidate as well.
“We may not get resumes reviewed until early January,” said Ambrosino. “I hope to make a decision on a new director in early February. So, we’ll probably be continuing our temporary situation until the end of the winter. These are tough jobs to fill.”
Foti left his job at the City just before Thanksgiving.