The city of Foster City announced Tuesday that Public Works Director Ray Towne will retire from his post in December.
Towne has spent 40 years in the Engineering profession, including the last seven years as the Foster City public works director, city officials said.
The city manager has opened a recruitment for the position, which he hopes to fill by the end of the year when Towne retires on Dec. 28.
Towne was part of developing Foster City into the community it is today, even before he became a Foster City employee, city officials said.
In 1984, while working for a private consulting firm, Towne was assigned to work with Foster City’s Public Works Department. He worked with City staff off and on for the next 15 years doing infrastructure planning, construction document plan checking and construction review of Metro Center, Vintage Park and dozens of residential and commercial projects.
In 1999, Towne was first hired as City Engineer and in 2005 he was appointed Public Works Director.
As Public Works Director, Towne has overseen the operation of the Public Works Department’s 33 employees, an operating budget of $17 million and a comprehensive Capital Improvement Program.
The major divisions in the Department include Engineering (including Capital Projects) and Maintenance (Water, Sewer, Streets and Lagoons).
“Ray has seen the Department through this challenging economic time, ensuring that the services our community has come to expect continue in the high quality manner that is characteristic of the Foster City Public Works Department, while working with his staff to actively manage the cost of those services,” City Manager Hardy said in a statement.
One of the highlights of Towne's time in Foster City was receiving a copy of the book Images of America – Foster City from T. Jack Foster Jr. with the inscription, “Foster City looks great – keep up the good work.”
As an engineer, Towne appreciated the compliment, but also recognized the planning that went into Foster City’s design that has made it an engineering success for over 50 years.
“Foster City is such a unique community,” said Towne. “It has been a pleasure to serve Foster City as its Public Works Director and have a hand in shaping that character.”
Upon retirement Towne hopes to relax for a few months before venturing out and traveling with his wife around the states and visiting friends in Europe.
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