Mayor Gusciora Appoints Acting Water Director

Trenton N.J. – Mayor W. Reed Gusciora is appointing David Smith as Acting Director of the Department of Water and Sewer effective immediately. The move came after Council rejected the reappointment of Steve Picco as Acting Director. Acting Director Smith will oversee the Department for 90-days while a regional search is continued to find a permanent replacement.

Acting Director Smith has been the Chief Engineer since June of 2019. He has a degree in Bioenvironmental Engineering from Rutgers University. He has a been a project and/or engineering manager for water systems throughout the tri-state area for the past two decades. He has overseen the completion of numerous capital improvement projects including several developments at facilities both in New Jersey and in New York.

“I have full faith that he will run the Department with competency, and in compliance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s standards,” maintained Mayor Gusciora. “We’re still looking for our permanent Director, and we intend to conduct a regional search. Water is too important an asset for the City to not get the best administrator we can find.”

Fire Director Derrick Sawyer is heading the search committee. Director Sawyer, the former Fire Commissioner for Philadelphia, also acts as the Emergency Operations Commander for the City.

Former Director Picco, who will remain on board as a consultant for the Department, will continue negotiations with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on their Administrative Consent Order. Picco and Smith have worked over the course of their tenure to ensure that Trenton has had no copper /lead DEP violations in the past year.

“Director Smith will continue to reach out to the public officials in our service municipalities.” Gusciora said, “he’s the right man for the job right now, and we’re happy that he’s taking on this role.”

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