Go-to guy stepping down; DPW head Moylan to retire after 42 years.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Nick Kotsopoulos

WORCESTER - As the city's public works chief for the past 20 years, Robert L. Moylan Jr. has steered the city through major construction projects and many storms.

He has been the city's point person on just about every major public construction project during his tenure, including the construction of new schools, the water filtration plant, municipal parking garages, the addition to the Worcester Public Library, parks renovations, as well as infrastructure related to the development of CitySquare and the expansion of the CSX freight terminal.

Mr. Moylan also has spearheaded city cleanup efforts following major weather events, such as this year's blizzard, the Blizzard of '78 and the ice storm of 2008.

But after 42 years of service to the city, Mr. Moylan will

retire at the end of this year.

City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said Mr. Moylan, 65, presented him with a formal letter of retirement earlier this week.

Saying his powers of persuasion to convince Mr. Moylan to stay on for "one more year" are no longer effective, Mr. O'Brien said the commissioner will be retiring on or about Dec 31.

At that time Mr. Moylan will have completed more than 42 years of service to the city.

The manager said he intends to promote Paul Moosey, assistant commissioner of engineering, to the role of deputy commissioner on July 1, with the goal of eventually elevating him to acting commissioner when Mr. Moylan retires.

"These six months will allow (Mr. Moosey) to work side-by-side, literally, with Commissioner Moylan and know and understand all that is under his span of control and all that is under way, planned or in long-range thinking," Mr. O'Brien said.

"I am very confident that we are preparing well for Commissioner Moylan's departure at the end of this year," he added. "There is no question he will be sorely missed but I have every confidence that the same quality service that DPWP has provided in the past will continue after his retirement."

Mr. O'Brien said the commissioner's departure will create a significant void in the city government because of the many duties he performed and excelled at.

In addition to running the Department of Public Works, one of the city's largest departments, Mr. Moylan also took on the responsibility of overseeing the Parks Department when the two were merged several years ago, as well as the maintenance of the 160-acre Hope Cemetery.

In addition to overseeing the construction projects, Mr. Moylan put...