Submitted by Frank Quinn
The Greenwich Time recently published an article about retiring Public Works Commissioner Amy Siebert. I worked with Ms. Siebert early in her tenure as a community representative on traffic and pedestrian safety issues. My roles on the RTM and as President of the Riverside Association gave me an opportunity to observe her leadership style and the challenges facing the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Ms. Siebert’s accomplishments include improvements to waste disposal and storm resiliency, but public works leadership can influence outcomes differently. Reflecting on her predecessors, Marcos Madrid stands out for his ability to balance innovation with practical solutions to build consensus.
Mr. Madrid left office shortly after the election of Jim Lash for unrelated family reasons, yet it’s worth considering how the town might have benefited had these two leaders served together.
Both Lash and Madrid championed the Safe Routes to School plans developed through a coordinated effort with neighborhood associations in Riverside, Old Greenwich, Dundee, North Mianus and Cos Cob. Following Madrid’s departure momentum of these initiatives stalled, highlighting the need to galvanize support across stakeholders such as the BET and entrenched town bureaucracies.
The Greenwich Time article noted Ms. Siebert said she and her team did not see infrastructure as political, and recounted how the DPW recently changed a plan to replace a bridge on North Street after public input and outcry. While infrastructure decisions are complex, it is worth asking if these community concerns could have been addressed earlier by a more engaged commissioner.
As the town reflects on this history, Ms. Siebert’s retirement presents an opportunity to appoint a leader who combines vision with practicality and community engagement.
Frank Quinn