East Providence DPW Director Coutu departs for BCWA post

Will become Executive Director/Chief Engineer of regional body

By Mike Rego
Posted 12/8/20

EAST PROVIDENCE — Steve Coutu is leaving his long-held position as Director of Public Works in the City of East Providence to become the new Executive Director of the Bristol County Water …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


East Providence DPW Director Coutu departs for BCWA post

Will become Executive Director/Chief Engineer of regional body

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Steve Coutu is leaving his long-held position as Director of Public Works in the City of East Providence to become the new Executive Director of the Bristol County Water Authority based in Warren.

The formal announcement was made in a press release issued Monday, Dec. 7. Mr. Coutu actually became aware of the decision by the BCWA Board of Directors on Friday, Dec. 4.

Mr. Coutu will also have the title of BCWA Chief Engineer. He replaces Pamela Marchand, who is set to retire in February of next year. His last day in East Providence is to be determined. He is scheduled to begin his new duties on January 18.

“The job opened up. I thought it was a good opportunity for me and my family. I’m at the point in my career where I’m ready for a new challenge,” Mr. Coutu, a Barrington resident, said of his decision. “With my experience in East Providence I guess the board felt I would be a good fit."

He added, “It’s not like I was looking to leave. I actually read in The Barrington Times (EBMG sister paper of The Post) that Pam (Marchand) was going to retire. I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring and see what happened. It’s right in backyard. I think it’s a great job.”

Mr. Coutu was chosen to take over the position by the BCWA Board of Directors. He departs his post as East Providence DPW director after 19 years. He was hired for that role in 2001.

Mr. Coutu has actually been an East Providence employee for 23-1/2 years, having come to the city as its Engineer/Deputy DPW Director in July of 1997 before being named department director some four years later.

Mr. Coutu also served as a project engineer in previous positions. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Rhode Island and graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering.

“The Board was pleased to find such a qualified candidate to carry-on the mission of the BCWA to protect the public health,” said BCWA Board Chair Allan Klepper.

Mr. Coutu’s responsibilities in East Providence included management of the city’s Water and Sewer departments. In recent years, he took on oversight as well of the East Providence Parks and Recreation Department.

Mr. Coutu’s most notable projects lately included managing a multi-year road repaving program along with the reconstruction of East Providence’s central water facility in Kent Heights and its continued replacement of piping throughout the city. DPW is currently in the midst of replacing a key 72-inch culvert at South Broadway.

“It’s been a good ride. We’ve faced a number of different projects and challenges in my years here. I’m going to miss it, but what I’m going to miss the most is working with such fine, dedicated people. Everyone always seemed to pull together. They all truly enjoy serving the people of East Providence.”

Mr. Couto will inherit several significant projects, including the BCWA's $37 million plan to build a pipeline to the Pawtucket water supply. That project, which includes a new secondary supply line to Pawtucket through East Providence and an emergency backup line currently under construction, has been dogged by delays and financial issues. East Providence officials have resisted BCWA overtures that the city help fund the project, and obtaining the necessary rights of way through the city has also proven a challenge, Ms. Marchand has said.

“The big BCWA projects involve East Providence. I imagine my knowledge of the streets, utilities and water system of East Providence is going to be a big help,” Mr. Coutu said of what lay ahead. “

In East Providence, Mr. Coutu, likewise, leaves as the city also ponders how it will secure the secondary source of water and with the lingering concern over the viability of its main line feed in the Providence River/upper reaches of Narragansett Bay, connecting East Providence to the Scituate Reservoir.

“We got a lot of things accomplished over the years here,” Mr. Coutu said. “The main line under the Providence River has been a big objective for a long time. The pipe was installed in the (19) 60s. We have some idea of its condition, but we’ve never done an internal inspection. It’s important to get that information. It’s the main source of supply. It’s definitely better to be pro-active in that situation.”

He added, “Believe me, it wasn’t any easy decision. I take the job to heart, do the best I can for the people I work for. I love working in East Providence, but it just felt like it’s the right time, the right opportunity.”


— The Warren Times-Gazette editor Ted Hayes contributed to this report.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.