A crucial yet persistently empty position in the Department of Public Works has been filled by City Council approval of Cranston’s first permanent DPW director hiring since the post was last filled in 2023.

Frank Corrao was approved by the council at last week’s meeting. No stranger to the role, he had been working as the acting director since last year.

Corrao said he was fortunate to start out as acting director for the position. It gave him the opportunity to meet staff, City Council, administration and test drive the role before taking it on permanently.

Corrao previously worked as the deputy chief engineer at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), and he has lived in Cranston for over 40 years.

He credits his time at RIDOT as great experience and preparation for this role.

As the new DPW director, he will oversee a $17.1-million operating budget, manage 71 employees and serve as a voting member of the City Planning Commission, according to the most recent job posting prior to Corrao’s appointment.

“I like the direction the mayor wants to take the city, and I am excited to be a part of it,” Corrao said about his role as the new DPW director.

The Department of Public Works oversees the control, care and maintenance of all phases of public works infrastructure, projects and facilities, including rodent control, waste management and stormwater drainage.

One of the realms within the department is the highway division. Highway manager John Corso says Corrao has been great to work with since he came into the role as acting director.

Now that Corrao has been appointed, Corso says it is very good news that they have a permanent director now.

Along with his appointment, Corrao will also get a raise in salary. The council approved a salary boost from $132,000 to $172,000.

For fiscal year 2025, which began July 1, 2024, the salary decreased to $33,252 as a budgetary measure because of the time it would have taken to fill the job permanently, which was assumed to be by April 1, 2025.

Chief of Staff Anthony Moretti has long stated that a competitive salary was one of the factors in how long it took to get someone in the role.

“Cranston is fortunate to have such a skilled and experienced director of public works,” Moretti said. “Frank not only possesses the technical ability to do the job but is a person of sound character and compassion, and [he understands] the needs of our residents.”