For Immediate Release:
5/17/2022 10:43 am
WORCESTER – City leaders yesterday presented Mark A. Clemente with the 2022 Paul J. Moosey Department of Public Works & Parks Employee of the Year Award at a ceremony at City Hall.
Clemente is a nearly 23-year employee of Worcester’s Department of Public Works & Parks. DPW&P Commissioner Jay Fink noted the positive spirit, leadership skills, and steadfast abilities Clemente showed throughout the pandemic.
The award is named for Paul J. Moosey, former commissioner of the Department of Public Works & Parks, who worked for the City of Worcester for 36 years and passed away in 2020.
The award also coincides with the annual celebration of National Public Works Week, which is sponsored by the American Public Works Association, to raise awareness and remind the public of the crucial role that public works plays in the quality of life of all communities and the vitally important contributions of public works professionals.
Fink said Clemente showed his leadership during the course of the pandemic when daily trash totals reached record-high levels, equating to tons of extra trash per crew. At a time when the Sanitation Department was short a Foreman, Clemente stepped up and into a role as “acting foreman” and found creative ways to collect the excess trash, to keep his team moving in the right direction, and to get the job done.
“Public Works professionals like Mark Clemente are some of Worcester’s unsung heroes,” said City Manager Edward M. Augusts. “They are out there doing the unseen work that keeps our city running, in all seasons and in all weather, and as essential workers during the pandemic. I congratulate Mark on this well-earned recognition.”
Not only did Clemente assign the crews and supervise the collection routes, Fink said Clemente was always willing to jump on the back of a truck to assist a crew in need of help. It was not an easy task, and while some days it would appear the task seemed insurmountable, he managed it all with exhausted crews and tired equipment.
“Having worked with Paul Moosey for over 20 years and having known him as a friend, I can unequivocally say that Paul would have appreciated Mark’s above-and-beyond tenacity and ability to get the job done and, therefore, is deserving of this award,” said James Kempton, Clemente’s manager at the DPW&P.
The 2021 award recipient was Jonathan Gervais, the environmental manager of the Department of Public Works and Parks.
Pictured from left to right: City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, City Manager Edward Augustus, Mark Clemente from Streets & Sanitation, DPW&P Commissioner Jay Fink, Cindi Moosey, wife of the late Paul Moosey, and Mayor Joseph Petty.
Photo by Mary Turner.
