I’ve told many people in the City of Newport that one of the biggest mistakes they ever made was to let Paul Rodrigues leave.”

Scott Wheeler, Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Paul Rodrigues, Brian Woodhead’s right-hand man in the Department of Public Works for the past six years, has been promoted to lead the department going forward.

Rodrigues was appointed to be Woodhead’s successor, effective May 2, in a 6-1 vote by the Town Council Monday night. 

Earlier this month, Woodhead announced his retirement, effective May 1, after 27 years of service. He and Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. both recommended Rodrigues, a Middletown resident, to be the next director.

“As deputy director, Paul has continuously exceeded the expectations of his role. He has demonstrated his knowledge and experience in all areas and he is already well-versed in ongoing projects within the department,” Woodhead told the council.

Rainer, in a letter to the council, noted that besides serving as deputy DPW director since 2018, Rodrigues has also taken on the responsibilities of being the town’s solid waste and recycling coordinator. 

“His extensive experience, leadership abilities, and deep commitment to the town’s infrastructure and public service make him the ideal candidate for this critical role,” Rainer stated. “Paul’s background in public works, spanning over three decades, demonstrates his ability to oversee complex municipal operations. His time as deputy director has provided him with in-depth knowledge of our (DPW’s) responsibilities, including road maintenance, drainage projects, paving programs, subdivision review, and grant oversight. Additionally, his hands-on approach to problem-solving and strong working relationships with staff and community stakeholders have positioned him to seamlessly transition into this leadership role.”

Before voting, Council Vice President David Gleason asked what type of degree Rodrigues had.

“I don’t have any degrees in engineering or anything like that, but I’ve had 27 years of experience in the City of Newport,” Rodrigues said, adding he served another six years in Portsmouth. “I think my experience exceeds any degrees.”

Process is questioned

Mary McDowell was the only council member to vote against the appointment, but said she was questioning the hiring process and not Rodrigues’s qualifications.

“I believe it’s healthy for a community to have competitive hiring practices for key municipal positions,” McDowell said. “It is good for everyone. We can learn so much from a hiring process that is open, transparent, and requires all to go through the application process.”

Department head positions, she said, should be advertised, with a “meaningful interview process … and a selection process that is based on the best candidate.”

Lisa Puglia, the town’s human resources director, said “succession planning is part of this process” and that promoting from within is often preferred because the employee is already familiar with the department.

Scott Wheeler, of Richard Drive, said he has personal knowledge of Rodrigues’s credentials because he was the deputy’s direct supervisor for a good portion of the 27 years he served in Newport.

“I’ve told many people in the City of Newport that one of the biggest mistakes they ever made was to let Paul Rodrigues leave. He is an exceptional employee,” said Wheeler, adding that Rodrigues was once named the city’s employee of the year and was “beloved” by the public. Taking the risk of losing him would be a “massive mistake,” Wheeler said.

Future meetings

The council will meet at 7 p.m. on two Mondays, April 14 and 28, at Town Hall.

The April 28 meeting will include an overview of the proposed municipal budget for next year. Budget workshops have been scheduled at Town Hall for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29; Wednesday, April 30; and Thursday, May 1 (if needed).