Recently, the City of Meriden Public Works Department became just the second such agency in Connecticut and fifth in New England to receive full accreditation, from the American Public Works Association (APWA). And, Monday night, during the first City Council meeting of the new year, a formal presentation and recognition occurred.
During their one-week visit to Meriden, the APWA team reviewed 312 management practices, including the city’s Finance and Human Resources department, and deemed Meriden DPW fully compliant in ALL practices, which is a rarity!
"As Department Director, APWA National Agency Accreditation represents more than a credential—it reflects the professionalism, commitment, and pride of our staff, said John Lawlor, Director of Meriden Public Works and Engineering. "This achievement strengthens our department by standardizing best practices, supporting employee development, and ensuring we deliver safe, efficient, and reliable services to the public we serve.”
Meriden was identified as employing several model practices, including the city’s Street Maintenance Material Conservation Program. Meriden Public Works repurposes material, including by breaking up concrete, from curb repair projects, and mixing it with road millings and some materials collected through street sweeping to use as back-fill on other projects.
Having gone through this rigorous process, and adhering to an accepted national standard, will assist the Meriden DPW in continuing to be proficient, including in the following areas:
Onboarding of new employees
Training and retraining of employees
Submission of grant applications
