The new Milton facilities department that will consolidate maintenance and property management for all municipal buildings took a major step this evening when the hiring committee unanimously voted to recommend Bill Ritchie to the post of Director of the new department.

Mr. Ritchie, who currently manages facilities for the Milton Public Schools was one of three finalists. The committee recommending Mr. Ritchie was composed of;

• Tony Cichello, Chairman of the Consolidated Facilities Committee
• Denis Keohane, member of the School Committee
• John Shields, member of the Board of Selectmen
• Kevin Mearn, Town Administrator
• Mary Gormley, Superintendent of Schools

The committee was originally scheduled to make their appointment in late February but Mearn and Gormley requested more time to consider their choice. The Director will report to both Mr. Mearn and Ms. Gormley.

Gormley said Ritchie was a self-starter who knew th school buildings inside and out. She feels he will “hit the ground running” and replicate the skills he possesses with the school buildings town wide. Mr. Mearn echoed Gormley’s sentiments. He also added that many town officials had worked extremely hard to bring the process to this point and that “the residents should be proud of how our government operates.”

Shields said “He is the guy for the job” and also complimented Mr. Cichello for his tireless effort, confessing that at one point “I never thought we’d make it.”

For his part Mr. Chichello cited Ritchie’s clear enthusiasm and the fact that he had educated himself during the school building project and came to the selection committee with a clear agenda of how he would start the department should he be selected. Well, he has been selected. Cichello concluded by saying the choice is “exactly the right message we want to end to the town.”

Ritchie will become the new director pending contract negotiations and votes by the full School Committee and Board of Selectmen.