Brooklyn appoints new service director

Community NewsBrooklyn Service Department. (John Benson/cleveland.com)John Benson/cleveland.comBy John Benson, special to cleveland.comBROOKLYN, Ohio -- Brooklyn City Council recently appointed Tom Bruzek as the new service director. The longtime Brooklyn service department employee had been named interim service director after the retirement of John Verba. Brooklyn Mayor Ron Van Kirk said there were more than a half dozen applicants for the position with four internal and external candidates receiving interviews.As for naming an in-house replacement, the mayor said that’s always the best-case scenario.“Tom, who has been with the city since 1998, as the interim was making decisions and he was able to demonstrate that he knows the work,” he said. “He was John’s No. 2 guy, so I’ve had a lot of interactions with him. “Tom knows the city. He knows how the processes work. He has the respect of the department down there and the residents know he’s a hard worker. “He’s going to do a phenomenal job as service director, so we’re thrilled to have him step into the role.” The mayor said he plans to meet with Bruzek about any changes planned for the service department. “I’m not a micromanager, so he’ll make changes that he wants to make,” he said. “We’ll keep moving the service department forward. “They do a great job already, but when a new guy comes in with a fresh set of eyes, there are probably going to be some change. I’m sure that’ll happen.” Among the first items to be addressed will be the naming of a replacement for his former position as general foreman. Also, the mayor said capital budgets meetings are beginning with the service department’s wish list being under consideration. “There are actually quite a few vehicles that they’re going to be asking for,” he said. “They need a new chipper, a new truck and another hustler related to snow removal. “So in the coming weeks, we’ll whittle that list down to what we actually want to purchase in 2027.” Read more news from the Parma Sun Post here.