The Wellesley Municipal Light Board has selected an experienced, proven leader as the next Director of the Town’s Municipal Light Plant. Don Newell, the Assistant Director of Line Operations at the WMLP, has been named to the position by a unanimous vote of the Board.
He takes over the job from current Director Dick Joyce who is retiring on July 31.
Newell 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. He’s a 1989 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
During his 20 years at the WMLP, Newell has been involved with a number of projects. Most recently, he worked on the Distribution Automation Expansion and the Town’s LED Streetlight Conversion, which retrofitted nearly 3,000 high pressure sodium streetlights with more energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures.
In addition to his experience and expertise, Newell is well-known for his collaborative working relationships with other Town departments.
In his new role, he plans to focus on a number of initiatives that will continue to improve the service provided by the WMLP to its customers. Some of his key goals include expanding WellesleyNet commercial internet services, encouraging electric vehicle use in the community, and continuing to maintain the WMLP’s outstanding record of safety, reliability and entrepreneurship.
In addition to Newell, two other candidates were finalists for the Director position, Sam Osmancevic, the Director of Engineering and Operations for the Belmont Light Plant and Laura J. Scott, Power Supply and Rates Administrator for the Concord Municipal Light Plant.