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Simsbury Public Works Director Awarded the 2022 Management Innovation Award from the American Public Works Association

Posted on: April 25, 2022 - 9:28am
Public Works Director Tom Roy

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has awarded its 2022 Management Innovation Award to Tom Roy, Director of Public Works/Town Engineer for the Town of Simsbury.  This national award recognizes an individual, team, or organization for the development, management, and implementation of a creative idea, program, process, or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public.

Mr. Roy is being recognized for the innovative procedures implemented in the Simsbury Public Works Department in the winter of 2020 in response to the unprecedented threats presented by the potential spread of COVID, and the potential for significant staffing shortages created by 14-day quarantines for COVID exposures. In order to maintain staff safety while addressing the critical snow and ice operational needs of the community, Mr. Roy developed procedures that allowed drivers to quarantine in their plow trucks during snow and ice events, use private camping tents to prevent the spread of COVID during rest breaks, and provided for contingency plans with neighboring municipalities and other first responders to provide support in the event of a COVID outbreak with the department.

“I am thrilled that Tom is being recognized for his efforts in protecting our essential workforce and maintaining our critical infrastructure during the pandemic,” said Maria Capriola, Town Manager. “Tom and the entire Public Works Department have demonstrated resilience and creativity in the face of new challenges brought on by COVID, and we are so grateful for all of their hard work in keeping our community safe.”  

In its nomination letter to the awards committee, members of the New England Chapter of the APWA described how valuable it was that Mr. Roy shared this approach to managing snow operations during a pandemic with other agencies in Connecticut, across the northeast, and with the national public works industry at large.  The procedures implemented in Simsbury served as a model for other communities and their health departments grappling with the same challenges. 

“Tom’s innovation not only ensured the safety of Simsbury roads throughout the pandemic but was also adopted as a best practice in other parts of the State and Northeast,” said Jennifer Kertanis, Executive Director of the Farmington Valley Health District.”  “It is this type of ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking that has been so critical throughout the pandemic.”

Mr. Roy will be presented with his award on August 29, 2022 at the Public Works Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Congratulations to Tom for this well-deserved recognition!