From left, Commissioners Maury Blumberg, Cathy Horn, Frank and Ginger Riccioti and Mayor Michael Collins.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – He’s a legend among those who keep municipalities humming. Public Works Supervisor Frank Ricciotti, 68, is retiring after 50 years keeping Margate City infrastructure and its beaches in tip top shape.
Ricciotti saw the city through cleanups after numerous weather events, including the derecho storm of 2012 and Superstorm Sandy.
Mayor Michael Collins and the Board of Commissioners honored him Thursday, Oct. 19 with a proclamation naming the day “Frank Ricciotti Day” in Margate.
“In my short six months, what I will miss most is his knowledge of the city, every single pipe underground, its pitch and where its coming from,” Collins said. “We thank you for your 50 years of service.”
Mayor Michael Collins reads a proclamation naming Oct. 20, 2023 Frank Ricciotti Day in Margate.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg who has worked with Ricciotti over the last 17 years, called him a perfectionist, and Commissioner Cathy Horn, who has known him for just a few months, called him “a legend.”
“His knowledge is unmatched by anyone in this city,” Blumberg said. “For Frank, it was way more than a job, he took it personal. Our streets, our beaches, our parks, our systems are second to none in Atlantic County.”
Commissioner Maury Blumberg thanks Ricciotti for his 50 years of service to the city.
Blumberg said Ricciotti has trained a great team of employees who will continue to keep the city “first rate.”
Ricciotti started working for Margate as a laborer when he was 18 years old. He worked as a laborer for 20 years before being named superintendent, a position he has held for 30 years.
“It’s like night and day since I started working here,” Ricciotti said. “In 1973 the equipment wasn’t as good and there were a lot of older workers. Then they started hiring younger folks like me. When I became superintendent, I vowed to do things differently.”
Different meant working on the public officials at the time to provide the financing to replace trucks, tractors and other much needed equipment.
Ricciotti reflects on his time working to keep the city humming.
“I’ve seen a lot of nor’easters, snowstorms and working all night to clear roads so people could get to work the next morning,” he said.
The biggest change he’s seen over the years is the sheer number of people who flock to Margate during the summer.
The post-Sandy dune project changed the face of the beach, he said.
“At first, I was against it because our stormwater flowed to the beach,” he said. “But once they put in the drainage system, it worked and relieved a lot of the prep work we had to do before storms.”
A few years back, Ricciotti was recognized as the American Public Works Association superintendent and director of the year for the State of New Jersey, something he is very proud of, he said.
Superintendent of Public Works Frank Ricciotti with Assistant Superintendent Pat Power.
“I had the opportunity to share my job with Assistant Superintendent Pat Power. Margate doesn’t anything to worry about,” he said.
Although his retirement is not official until Dec. 31, Ricciotti will be taking the rest of the year off, using up saved vacation and sick days, he said. Power has been sitting at the table, providing the governing body with department head updates during commission meetings.
Ricciotti attended the meeting with his wife Ginger, who said she loved having her husband around. They are looking forward to going to Florida for the next four months to be closer to their children, who also live in Florida.
“I have so much to do,” Ricciotti said when asked what his retirement years would look like.
He ended his speech saying, “It’s getting colder out, and we must travel south.”
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