Dedham's Engineer Hired Away to Easton

Easton officials announced Friday that they hired Dedham town engineer David Field as their next director of Public Works.

"I have mixed emotions about the situation," said Dedham Town Administrator William Keegan. "He's been such a great asset to us and I'm sorry to see him go."

The Town of Dedham hired Field in 2005 as the town's first full-time engineer, and he has helped spearhead many projects in his 6-plus years, but none bigger than the $6.1 million Dedham Square Improvement Project set to begin in the spring.

Keegan said that work will go on as planned, with the department's staff and an engineering consultant stepping in to help coordinate the beginning of the project.

The town will post the open position on Tuesday, and hire someone as soon as possible, Keegan said.

The town administrator often uses open positions to revamp its job description, but Keegan said the engineer's position has worked so well that there won't be changes to it.

"[We'll] fill it immediately," Keegan said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

Dedham made great strides under Field, Keegan said, including a pavement management plan that has drastically improved the town's public roads. Field helped fix the town's sewer system that officials say has saved the town millions in just a few years, and Field oversaw the town's award-winning Geographic Information Science (GIS) system.

"Dave has done a great job in Dedham and we wish him well," Board of Selectmen chair Jim MacDonald stated in an email Friday.

In Easton, Field will be asked to mirror some of his achievements in Dedham.

"Director Field will take the lead role in completing the Town’s comprehensive wastewater management plan, the revitalization of North Easton Village, the renovation of Frothingham Hall, and various roadway and intersection projects around town," Easton Town Administrator David Colton said in a statement.