Mayor Walsh announces departure of Public Works commissioner

I have been truly blessed over the past two decades to work for the taxpayers of Boston. It has been my honor

BOSTON -  Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that Public Works Commissioner Michael Dennehy will be leaving the City of Boston to become the Town Administrator of Milton. Dennehy is a twenty-year member of the Public Works Department. For the last three years, he has led this critical Department, which handles all residential recycling and trash collection as well as builds, lights and maintains the City's streets, sidewalks and bridges. Dennehy's last day will be on Friday, November 25.

"We owe great thanks to Michael for his incredible service to the City," said Mayor Walsh.  "He has exceptionally high standards for the services we deliver and has built a very strong team to meet those standards every day. Whether it was leading our City through our snowiest winter or ensuring that a 311 call was responded to quickly and well, Michael delivered for our residents. Milton is getting an excellent leader and a great public servant. We wish Michael the best."

Michael Dennehy joined the Public Works Department in 1996, working in the City's Highway Division. He helped lead the implementation of the City's first constituent relationship management system, assisted with the development of the BOS:311 app and inspired the creation of the companion app used by City employees called City Worker. He has served as the Public Works Commissioner since 2014.

"I have been truly blessed over the past two decades to work for the taxpayers of Boston. It has been my honor," said Dennehy. "I am equally thankful to have worked alongside the dedicated men and women of the Public Works Department who proudly deliver the basic city services to this world class City day in and day out."

Chris Osgood, the City's Chief of Streets, Transportation & Sanitation, will serve as the Acting Public Works Commissioner. With the addition of this role, Osgood will chair the Public Improvement Commission and support the work of the Public Work's Construction, Engineering & Permitting Divisions.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Brohel will lead all core city service operations for the Public Works Department. This includes the City's response to snow, as well as overseeing Central Fleet, Code Enforcement, Highway Operations, Street Lighting and Waste Reduction.