Peck Named New DPW Director

HARWICH – In continuing to build his leadership team, Town Administrator Jay McGrail makes no apologies for choosing proven talent. This week, he announced another former colleague from Middleborough, Christopher Peck, to serve as Harwich’s next director of public works.

 Peck’s was among 14 applications reviewed by a five-member screening committee made up of select board Chair Peter Piekarski, HR Director Angelique McGibbon, Police Chief Kevin Considine, Deputy DPW Director Sean Libby and McGrail. 

 “Chris was the panel’s unanimous choice, and it wasn’t even close,” McGrail told the select board Monday. Peck has served as Middleborough’s DPW director since 2013, leading a department with more than 45 employees and a budget of over $15 million. In Middleborough, the public works department includes the water and sewer departments, highway department and municipal trash collection.

 “He led the design and construction of Middleborough’s new DPW facility and served as the team leader on its new PFAS treatment plant wastewater facility,” McGrail said. “He began his career as a civil engineer.” Peck’s combination of engineering knowhow and hands-on skills match Harwich’s needs as the town moves ahead with its ambitious water and wastewater projects, he said. 

 Prior to his term in Middleborough, Peck worked in Lakeville, where he was credited by some with turning around the public works department.

 “I’ll add something personal because I’ve worked with Chris,” McGrail said. “I hold him in very high regard. He’s one of the best directors I’ve ever worked with, one of the best people I’ve worked with and one of best employees that I’ve worked with,” he said.

 The town administrator praised retiring DPW Director Linc Hooper, who has served the town for the past 36 years.

 “He set a very high bar,” McGrail said. “Replacing him was never going to be easy.”

 McGrail also praised Deputy Director Sean Libby for his leadership.

 “Honestly, I think the position would have been Sean’s, had he wanted it. He’s clearly qualified, a very strong deputy director,” McGrail said. “I asked him 500 times, and 510 times he told me, ‘I absolutely do not want that job.’”

 “Every once in a while you hear people talk about, well, he’s bringing everybody from Middleborough,” select board member Don Howell said. Since he was hired, McGrail tapped a former Middleborough colleague to become assistant town administrator, and chose a person who had written grants for Middleborough to be Harwich’s new grant writer and communications coordinator. “My impression is, you’re trying to surround yourself with a team that’s just the best possible people that you can find,” Howell said.

 “I’ve heard that narrative too, Mr. Howell, and honestly, I would say that something I am proud of is that I hire people — I pride myself on hiring qualified people that I trust,” McGrail said. “And that’s really what it comes down to. When I trust somebody, it stays with me for a long time.”

 “Not only [do] you have trust in them, but they clearly have trust in you,” board member Jeff Handler said. 

 During the interview, the screening committee directly asked Peck why he was interested in a position in Harwich.

 “Chris looked right at us and said, it’s because of the management team,” McGrail said. “That’s not just me. That’s all of us at this table.” Peck has read local news coverage and watched televised meetings and already has a good sense of how Harwich operates, the town administrator said.

 “As I said to you before, Jay, if anybody wants to criticize you for bringing in a known entity, then shame on them,” Piekarsi said. “If you can hire someone that you know the track record in the background, and they consistently delivered over the years, you’d be foolish not to bring them on board.”

 The board unanimously voted to affirm the appointment. Peck will begin work in early 2027; his last day of work in Middleborough is Jan. 1.