For decades, during the wintertime, Joe Tani has kept his ear close to the radio, listening to weather reports on approaching storms for guidance in planning how best to remove the snow and ice that accumulates on local roads.

As operations manager for the town Department of Public Works (DPW) for the past 30 years, it has been Mr Tani’s task to organize and accomplish the snow removal and ice control on town roads that is required after winter storms hit.

Mr Tani started working at DPW in 1970. He then left town service, but returned in 1973, working for the town continuously since then. His last day at work before retirement was August 2.

Initially a DPW truck driver, he later became a heavy equipment operator, and then a crew chief, before being promoted to DPW operations manager, a post in which he oversaw local roads and the municipal waste transfer station.

Fred Hurley, director of public works, noted that Mr Tani’s father and two uncles had worked at DPW before Joe, with their service dating back to the 1950s.

Mr Hurley said that Mr Tani has always been a hard worker, adding that his work to keep town roads in good order after winter storms is unequaled.

“Even though we might argue about things, he always told the truth,” Mr Hurley said.

The crew chief of each of the town’s four road crews will have trial periods during which they would increase their leadership experience, toward determining which of the four will be promoted to the post of operations manager, Mr Hurley said.

Of his public works career, Mr Tani said, “I’ve always liked the work, doing what I do...I enjoyed the people I worked with.”

Mr Tani grew up in Sandy Hook, graduating from Newtown High School in 1966. The high school was then located in what is now Newtown Middle School. After high school, he spent four years in the US Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam in 1969, before starting work at DPW.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal commented on Mr Tani’s service to Newtown, saying Mr Tani “worked hard for the town.” His many years of DPW service involved “a lot of snow storms, a lot of road paving,” Mr Rosenthal added.

“Whenever I’d call Joe and ask him to take care of something, he always responded ... Joe always put the town first ... The town owes him a debt of gratitude,” the first selectman said. “It’s a difficult job that Joe has had,” the first selectman added.

Mr Tani said the most challenging aspect of being operations manager has been dealing with problems stemming from major snow storms. “I’ve always tried to do my best for the town,” he commented.

“You’ve certainly seen a lot, the town has grown a lot since you (started) here,” Mr Rosenthal said.

At a noontime cookout that was held in his honor at DPW on August 2, Mr Tani quipped, “It will be nice to sit in my living room and watch it snow and not have to plow it.” Mr Tani lived locally until moving to Middlebury about 14 years ago.

“The worst storm I ever remember was in [February] 1978,” he said. “It snowed three feet, and then it drifted to eight to nine feet,” he said. Conditions were so tough during and immediately following the historic blizzard that DPW crews were not able to go home for more than three days, he recalled.

For recreation, Mr Tani said he enjoys golfing and walking daily. He and his wife take ocean cruises each year, often sailing in the Caribbean.