HATFIELD — After working as director of the town’s Department of Public Works since late 2009, Phil Genovese is retired, with a letter announcing his immediate resignation from the position accepted by the Select Board Wednesday.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to serve the people of Hatfield over the past 15 years,” Genovese, 69, wrote in the letter read publicly by Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal.

Genovese came to Hatfield after a two-year stint as interim DPW director in Millbury, but most of his career had been spent in his hometown of Westfield. In that city, Genovese worked for the DPW for 30 years, with six years spent as its director.

His retirement letter stated that he gave retirement careful thought and input and cited health concerns, as well.

During his tenure, Genovese has helped coordinate and been a primary point person for the $5.4 million water and sewer infrastructure upgrades along Routes 5 & 10 and the ongoing $13.4 million in upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.

He has also initiated smaller projects, like the state Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces grant program that installed three solar-powered flashing pedestrian beacons, including one near Smith Academy to improve safety for students.

Rather than appointing an acting director, board member Ed Jaworski appealed for an additional two weeks to figure out the action to take. “As you know I don’t like to rush into something right away,” Jaworski said.

Town Administrator Andrew Levine said the town needs to have someone authorized to submit DPW contracts, payrolls and expenditures, and it would he helpful to have an acting person overseeing that aspect of the director’s work.

Over the next 14 days, Levine will be charged with looking into how other towns operate, and whether modifications or adjustments should be made. Levine will work with one member of the Select Board, get input from department heads and those who work at the DPW.

“I think we should approach this in a way where we’re trying to cover all the angles,” Jaworski said.

If an employee needs to be designated to have the DPW director function sooner, the board could hold an emergency meeting.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.