NORTHAMPTON — After more than a decade serving at the helm of the Department of Public Works, Director Donna LaScaleia is leaving her position, effective Aug. 31, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced on Tuesday.

The mayor in a statement credited LaScaleia, who joined Northampton’s DPW in May 2016, with leading one of the city’s “largest and most essential” departments through a decade of “growth, investment and modernization.”

Overseeing nearly 100 employees responsible for maintaining Northampton’s roads, sidewalks, parks, athletic fields, cemeteries, water, sewer and wastewater systems, flood control infrastructure, public shade trees and fleet operations, LaScaleia guided the department through the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly severe weather events and a prolonged period of workforce shortages.

LaScaleia, whose gross earnings totaled about $155,000 in fiscal year 2025, did not return calls for comment on Tuesday. In the mayor’s statement, she said it was an honor to lead the dedicated men and women of the DPW.

“I have proudly served Northampton for a decade, and though I am stepping down, my care and respect for this city and DPW remain steadfast,” she said. “I encourage the community to support the next director and to recognize all Public Works employees who give so much in service each day.”

LaScaleia also offered her “deep gratitude” to Sciarra and former Mayor David Narkewicz for their “leadership,” “integrity,” for trusting and placing their confidence in her and for their support of the DPW.

The departing director’s tenure brought about an increased investment in public infrastructure and environmental protection, the mayor’s statement said. LaScaleia’s leadership paved the way for major roadway and sidewalk improvements, strengthened drinking water and stormwater systems and expansion of the city’s urban forest.

Northampton’s DPW, in 2025, earned recognition from the Department of Environmental Protection for providing one of the state’s top-performing public water systems. That same year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also recognized Northampton for excellence in its wastewater pretreatment program.

Listing a variety of the department’s achievements under the director, such as paving and reconstructing more than 30 miles of roads and sidewalks, planting more than 2,400 shade trees and investing more than $30 million in upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sciarra commended the director for her impactful work, reliability and improvements to the city.

“The work of public works touches every resident, every business, and every neighborhood, often in ways people never see … As Mayor, there are a handful of people whose judgment you come to rely on completely. Donna has been one of those people for me,” Sciarra wrote.

The city will begin a search for Northampton’s next director of public works immediately.

To support a smooth transition, Sciarra said she envisions an overlap between LaScaleia and her successor on “a limited basis” following her departure.