Crenca ready to succeed Picozzi as DPW director

By John Howell
Posted 7/18/17

By JOHN HOWELL There is no way Richard Crenca will forget his first day as Public Works Director for the Town of North Kingstown. It was the day that Hurricane Bob hit the state in 1991. Nor will Crenca forget the day that he gave his notice to the City

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Crenca ready to succeed Picozzi as DPW director

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There is no way Richard Crenca will forget his first day as Public Works Director for the Town of North Kingstown. It was the day that Hurricane Bob hit the state in 1991. Nor will Crenca forget the day that he gave his notice to the City of Woonsocket that he would be leaving the department of planning to return to Warwick, where he started his career in public service in 1977. The day he informed the Woonsocket mayor he would be leaving was September 11, 2001.

Now, with some trepidation, Crenca is wondering what will happen when he assumes his new job as Warwick Director of Public Works on July 24. He succeeds David Picozzi, who is retiring at the end of the month, after holding down the dual positions of DPW director and Mayor Scott Avedisian’s chief of staff. Picozzi has worked for the city for more than 32 years.

“I have a few irons in the fire,” Picozzi said when asked Friday what he planned to do. Whatever it is, Picozzi vowed it is “going to be something different.”

Crenca, 65, was likewise considering retirement, but then when Picozzi set a date for leaving he started hearing he should consider applying for the post.

The director serves at the pleasure of the mayor and, having lost a job because of a change in administrations during his career, Crenca knows the angst of wondering whether his job could evaporate and leave him unemployed. This case is different, he said, because he could retire. His children are grown. There’s not the uncertainty of an extended future. It has Crenca excited about the job.

“In a good way, it’s a good move,” he said.

Crenca has been splitting his days between the planning department, where he is the assistant principal planner, and shadowing Picozzi to learn the ins and outs of that job. He already knows many of the department personnel.

“I’m introducing myself around,” he said.

Having held the director’s job in North Kingstown, Crenca is familiar with the director’s post.

“I don’t think there’ll be any surprises,” he said.

“I’m going to try to provide the best service to the city I can,” he said.

“I am so pleased that Rick has agreed to take on this new role,” said Mayor Scott Avedisian in a statement released last week. “He brings many years of hands-on experience to the position and has demonstrated a tireless commitment to the citizens of Warwick. During my tenure as mayor, I have come to respect Rick as both a dedicated municipal employee, as well as a hardworking individual who continually strives to put the long-term interests of the community at the forefront. I have no doubt that Rick will rise to the challenges he will face with integrity and professionalism.”

Crenca was first hired by the city in 1977 as a senior planner in the Planning Department. He remained in that position until 1986 when he was appointed as the director of the city’s Building Inspection and Minimum Housing Department. In 1991 Crenca left to become director of the Department of Public Works in the Town of North Kingstown, a position he held for five years. In 1998 he was named the deputy director of Planning and Development in the City of Woonsocket. At the urging of former Planning Director Mark Carruolo, Crenca made his way back to the City of Warwick in 2001 when he took on the role of assistant principal planner.

A Warwick resident, Crenca was born, raised and educated in the city. He attended St. Kevin School and Warwick Veterans High School. From there he went on to graduate from Rhode Island College, earning a degree in liberal arts and economics. Crenca was a former member of the Rhode Island Building Officials Association, the New England Building Officials Association, BOCA International, chairman of the Mayor’s Recreational Advisory Committee in the City of Warwick, T.F. Green Airport Expansion Advisory Committee and past president of the Rhode Island Public Works Association.

Picozzi has been at the helm of the department since 2003.

“David has led one of the busiest city departments for 14 years. During that time, he has handled every challenge with unmatched dignity and leadership,” said Avedisian. “I applaud his tenacity and, while it is always bittersweet when a dedicated civil servant retires, I congratulate him on a job well done and offer him my heartfelt best wishes for all his future endeavors.”

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