• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Business index
  • Contribute
  • Wellesley Square
  • Private schools
  • Camp
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Kids
  • About us
  • Events
  • Natick Report
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Athlete of the Week
  • Seniors
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Lights out on a 24-year Wellesley MLP career for Director Dick Joyce

August 1, 2019 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Town of Wellesley gave a fond farewell to Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (MLP) Director Dick Joyce at a goodbye celebration at the Community Center earlier this week. Joyce has left his position after twenty-four years of service. A few months ago, anticipating this post, I asked him to send along a picture of himself, perhaps sitting at his desk. He thanked me by email for my interest, but claimed not to possess such a thing: “I don’t have a photo and if you did publish one, half of your subscribers would unsubscribe.”

Dick Joyce, Wellesley
Dick Joyce and his wife, Martha. Thanks to the Wellesley MLP for this photo. There was no way Dick was going to give one up.

Hmm, well, what about an exit interview, Dick? No go. “My preference has always been, and remains, not to draw attention to myself.”

Since Dick wouldn’t talk about himself, I had to seek out other sources who were willing to tell all about the dedicated professional and consummate gentleman. I didn’t have to look far.

State Representative Alice Peisch and the Board of Selectmen (BOS) each presented Joyce with proclamations thanking him for his service. In those proclamations was laid bare the entire tale of the guy who has worked tirelessly to deliver safe, environmentally sustainable and reliable electricity and telecommunication services to customers at competitive rates. The BOS proclamation said in part, “Dick has fostered a culture of safety at the MLP that is unparalleled in the industry. Under Dick’s leadership the MLP has received numerous awards and extensive recognition as an exemplary role model for municipal and investor-owned utilities throughout the country. His strong business management skills and partnership with the MLP Board have resulted in the consistent donation of one million dollars each year to the Town’s operating budget.”

Just a few of his projects: Joyce supported the holiday tree lighting program; installed solar energy production facilities at Wellesley High School and a charging bench outside the Wellesley Free Library; and retrofitted street lights with energy saving LED lights. In addition, under his leadership the MLP implemented many innovative initiatives which have enhanced services and revenues. He helped provide services to the Mass Development facility at Fort Devins; advocated for the strategically important purchase of light poles in the Town of Wellesley; and implemented the Distributed Antennae System program to expand cell coverage and fiber networks, and launch high speed data for municipal and commercial clients.

There’s a new sheriff in town

The Wellesley Municipal Light Board in late spring named Don Newell as the WMLP’s new director. Newell’s first day on the job was August 1. Newell comes to the position as the former assistant director of line operations at the WMLP. He has been with the WMLP since 1999, leaving briefly to work for the Ipswich Electric Light Department in 2014, and returning to Wellesley in 2017. Newell’s been involved in the town’s Distribution Automation Expansion and LED Streetlight Conversion, among other projects.

Dick Joyce and Don Newell
The changing of the guard:. Dick Joyce (left) and Don Newell at Dick’s farewell party at the Wellesley Community Center. Joyce’s last day on the job was July 31, 2019. Newell took over on August 1.

Newell’s goals include expanding WellesleyNet commercial internet services, and encouraging electric vehicle use in the community.

print

Share

Filed Under: Careers/jobs, Environment, Government

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Linden Square, Wellesley
Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Wonderful Wellesley, see what's new

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]

 

Advertisements

Wellesley Square
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Edge on Science
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Fay School, Southborough
Wellesley Theatre Project
Volvo
Cheesy Street Grill
Admit Fit, Wellesley
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Most Read Posts

  • Father's Day rescue in Wellesley
  • Family withdraws plan for large house near Wellesley's Brook Path
  • Wellesley Public School employees honored for loyalty
  • One final Hunnewell clap-out & shouts of "Judie! Judie! Judie!" for beloved crossing guard
  • Wellesley overwhelmed by Westwood in state final for girls' lacrosse

Upcoming Events

Jun 28
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Fay School admission information session

Jul 6
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Open House at Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

Jul 16
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wellesley Square July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale

Jul 19
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Fay School admission information session

Jul 20
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Tour at Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

View Calendar

Popular pages

  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads

Recent Comments

  • Uncle Danny on Wellesley overwhelmed by Westwood in state final for girls’ lacrosse
  • Fred Wright on Father’s Day rescue in Wellesley
  • Michael on Father’s Day rescue in Wellesley
  • Bob Brown on Restaurants in Wellesley, Mass.: more than 50 dining options
  • Bob Brown on Sneak peek: We visit Wellesley’s Laughing Monk Cafe

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (24)
  • Animals (416)
  • Antiques (49)
  • Art (576)
  • Beyond Wellesley (47)
  • Books (365)
  • Business (1,499)
  • Camp (11)
  • Careers/jobs (48)
  • Churches (79)
  • Clubs (228)
  • Construction (294)
  • Dump (127)
  • Education (3,108)
    • Babson College (250)
    • Bates Elementary School (16)
    • Dana Hall School (34)
    • Fiske Elementary School (9)
    • Hardy Elementary School (44)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (42)
    • MassBay (55)
    • Schofield Elementary School (24)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (2)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (11)
    • Upham Elementary School (35)
    • Wellesley College (608)
    • Wellesley High School (961)
    • Wellesley Middle School (203)
  • Embracing diversity (69)
  • Entertainment (786)
  • Environment (748)
  • Fashion (141)
  • Finance (14)
  • Fire (161)
  • Food (342)
  • Fundraising (612)
  • Gardens (157)
  • Government (553)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
    • 2022 Town Election (14)
  • Health (850)
    • COVID-19 (200)
  • Hikes (3)
  • History (388)
  • Holidays (405)
  • Houses (153)
  • Humor (47)
  • Kids (849)
  • Law (8)
  • Legal notices (6)
  • Letters to the Editor (62)
  • Media (70)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (11)
  • Morses Pond (108)
  • Music (568)
  • Natick Report (29)
  • Neighbors (273)
  • Obituaries & remembrances (73)
  • Outdoors (642)
  • Parenting (62)
  • Police (757)
    • Crime (386)
  • Politics (551)
  • POPS Senior Profile (8)
  • RDF (6)
  • Real estate (330)
  • Religion (131)
  • Restaurants (331)
  • Safety (150)
  • Scouts (2)
  • Seniors (120)
  • Shopping (143)
  • Sponsored (6)
  • Sports (980)
    • Athlete of the Week (6)
  • STEM (107)
  • Technology (164)
  • Theatre (392)
  • Town Meeting (23)
  • Transportation (230)
  • Travel (17)
  • Uncategorized (1,230)
  • Volunteering (346)
  • Weather (177)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (276)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (19)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed
Deland, Gibson Insurance, Wellesley

© 2022 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login