The O’Toole Chronicles: The incredible public servant

Something extraordinary occurred a few weeks ago and I think it bears devoting a column to. After 11 years as Chair of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, Tom Tucci has voluntarily hung up his spurs and is stepping away from his cherished chairmanship. Few people in this business, when they are riding high and still surfing at the peak of their profession, ever simply just walk away from such a high profile and personally rewarding job. Well Tom Tucci did just that.

For those unaware of this lifetime public servant, let me regale you with some of the legend. Throughout his tenure, Tom set the gold standard for how to succeed as a chair and he lovingly earned the nickname “Sewer King” (which is not to be confused with the Sausage King of Chicago). This retirement comes on the heels of Tom’s recent retirement from his other public service as a longtime township manager.

Without hyperbole, Tom is a modern-day American hero who has served the public selflessly for over 43 years. Throughout the years, Tom has served in many important public positions; some paid, some volunteer, and all collectively make up an incredible career. Let me add, Tom presents as a fascinating and incredible role model for our children and for future generations to come. Let’s talk about this gentleman and let’s start at the end, his service at PVSC.

For those unaware, the Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority was founded in 1902 by an act of the State Legislature to operate a sewer treatment plant near the Newark Bay. Currently, the authority provides service for over 1.6 million residents in 48 municipalities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union, and Passaic Counties. In a sentence or two, PVSC is one of the largest independent authorities that operates in New Jersey. Nine politically appointed commissioners serve on the board and are nominated by the Governor and voted on by the Senate.

In 2009, Tom, along with former Superior Court Judge Wayne Forrest (and former Somerset Prosecutor), were asked by the Governor to review the once troubled agency and asked to provide a road map, by way of a transition report, for the new administration. That report led to immediate reforms and several high-profile arrests and criminal convictions. Sadly, several political bosses, including former state senators, used this agency as an endless patronage pit. In its darkest day, the excesses and abuses of PVSC made front page headlines in the Star Ledger (printed version) and award-winning investigative reporter, Ted Sherman, documented this embarrassing political cesspool. Notwithstanding these lingering and longtime abuses, Tom and other like-minded public servants cleaned up this agency to help make it one of the most respected and efficient state agencies in the Garden State.

One editor’s note: As a state senator, I fought for years to have Tom nominated to serve on this prestigious board and was battled every step of the way. Over the course of years, Tom was nominated 6 different times before he was voted on by the Senate, and I had to utilize every tool available to me, including begrudgingly using senatorial courtesy to finally land him the position. The epic courtesy battle involved vacating 25 judicial slots, a looming BPU appointment, and a handful of assorted board appointments, before a deal was done. Not for the feint hearted.

Let’s roll back the tape.

Tom is an Essex County kid through and through. Tom was Newark born, grew up in Belleville and lived in Nutley for 43 years before recently moving to Caldwell.

Let me digress for a moment and make it about me. I value that I am a pretty good spotter of talent, and I saw talent in 1990 when I was the Mayor of Cedar Grove and was involved in the hiring of Tom Tucci to our little quiet suburban town. At the time of his interview, Tom was working for Fairfield Township, that is after a brief stint in Belleville as an engineering assistant. I remember interviewing Tom back then and was struck by his love of public service, his community and his family. Reputationally, Tom was known as incredibly loyal and hard working.  I met Tom’s dad in 1994, and I knew then that Tom was cut from the same cloth as his dad, who was revered and adored by his fellow county employees. Both men exemplified community spirit, kindness, warmth and a love for helping their fellow citizen.

I could sense from the moment that I met Tom that he was a person of impeccable ethics, an incredibly dedicated public servant, very professional and he clearly understood political cultures that he would encounter and fend off.

Tom’s reputation was that he was never political and was regarded as a Joe Friday, someone who played it by the book and not with a lot of wiggle room. Tom excelled in Cedar Grove and was soon promoted to the township manager position, which he held for over 33 years. Throughout those years, he managed exceptionally well, dealt with issues large and small, and was lauded many times as one of the top township managers in the state. Tom was asked constantly if he wanted to take a larger manager job in a bigger city and he consistently declined as he considered Cedar Grove his second hometown. Tom was even offered, several times, to serve as the Essex County Administrator in the 1990’s and he politely declined.

I write this opus on Tom not only because he is one New Jersey’s greatest treasures and one of New Jersey’s most enduring public servants, but I write this because Tom has been one of my closest friends and one of my life coaches for over 35 years and his story needs to be told. Heck, they should build a monument and put his name on it— calling Essex County Executive Joe D, calling Joe D.

Let’s explain some of the impact.

When I was 25-year-old mayor, Tom taught me that you need to try and help as many people as possible. Tom taught me that there is a lot of good, honest and hardworking individuals out there just looking to contribute to society.  Tom taught me, and many others, that in this business you will be asked to give a lot, risk a lot, and you be loved and hated by people you have done favors for. Tom taught me that in some cases, the more you do for some, the more they will resent you. Regardless of those exceptional ingrates, Tom’s policy was to help others because there are loads of needy people who need guidance, jobs, or an opportunity. Tom instructed me and others to plant as many trees, open as many doors as possible, and have little expectation in return. Tom was always extolling the virtues of patience and taking the longer view of life.

Over the years, Tom has hired thousands, literally thousands of individuals, and many have gone on to be productive and contributing citizens. Tom has mentored hundreds, and Tom has done scores of acts of kind charity, and unlike the rest of us, he did it with little or no fanfare. Like his dad, it was never about Tom.

Over the years, Tom has served as transition chair for transition teams of Governors, townships, and massive state agencies. Whenever there was a change in government, Tom’s phone would ring, and he was asked for advice as to how to review and rebuild an agency and he always made time to voluntarily help.

As I stated, Tom recently decided to retire and step down from his public service positions.  It needs to be said and understood that Tom has excelled at his work and done right by his craft so nobly and admirably. Many of us have learned life lessons from Tom and I’m hoping that in the near future we can provide Tom a forum to continue his C-suite mentoring journey. To be continued.

I am happy for Tom and his family. Rita, his amazing wife of four decades, is looking to spend a little more time with Tom. Tom’s two supportive and adoring daughters look forward to more time, and his 5 energetic (and costly) grandchildren want some more Siesta Key time with their poppa.

The greatest trick to be successful in this business is to not only know your ability, but also to know your limitations and when it is time to say goodbye. As we fade out and remember Tom’s legacy, I can’t help but hear Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman signing “Time To Say Goodbye.”