NEW CANAAN, CT — Town officials announced this week Highway Superintendent Mose Saccary will retire after 44 years of working for the New Canaan Public Works’ Highway Department.
In light of Saccary’s retirement, the Board of Selectmen appointed James Peck, an equipment operator and crew leader, to interim superintendent of highway during a meeting Tuesday.
Saccary was hired as a laborer for the Highway Department in 1980 and was soon promoted to operator.
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During this time, he was responsible for the streets north of Turner Hill to the New York State line, west to Smith Ridge Road and east to Valley Road, according to a news release provided by the town.
Affectionately known to many as “Mosey,” Saccary was promoted to road manager in 1999. He was later promoted to highway superintendent in 2007 and led the group for 17 years.
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“While only having worked with Mose for a short time, it is abundantly clear how big the shoes he leaves will be to fill,” First Selectman Dionna Carlson said in a statement sent to Patch. “I trusted him to give me good advice when discussing highway projects, and it is instantly apparent how much people in Town Hall and the town will miss his day-to-day presence.”
A native of New Canaan, Saccary worked for a number of local companies before joining the town, including Joe’s Pizza, Walter Stewart’s, Wadia Associates and Gulick and Engelke, among others.
“I learned over the years that you’re only as good as your team,” Saccary said in a statement sent to Patch. “I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by great people. I’ve had a great team.”
Upon promoting Peck to in interim highway superintendent position, Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll thanked the entire department for their important work around town.
“Those of us sitting close, we know it doesn’t just happen,” Carroll said. “The amount of details people have to handle, it’s amazing.”
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Carlson echoed Carroll’s statement and specifically thanked the entire department for their work related to a massive rainstorm that hit Connecticut over the weekend.
“Please communicate to all your colleagues our thanks for all the work [Monday] and ongoing and during the storm…I know it’s a lot, so thank you very much,” Carlson said. “This is where we really see all that you do for our community, so we appreciate it.”
In addition to Peck, Lou Boice was promoted from operator II to equipment operator III and crew leader Tuesday.
The Highway Department is responsible for the maintenance of the town’s 125 miles of public roads, with the safety and well-being of the citizens being top concern, as well as the aesthetics of New Canaan, according to the town.
Departmental duties include paving and plowing, stone walls, catch basins, leaf collection, litter control, signs, maintenance of town vehicles, solid waste collection from town buildings, town litter bins and roadside tree planting, as well as support for emergency services and special events.
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