Commissioner Erin Chute is pleased to announce that the Brookline Department of Public Works has recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the fourth time.
The accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.
The Brookline Department of Public Works was first awarded APWA Accreditation in 2011, and was the first accredited agency in New England. Brookline Public Works is one of two agencies in the state to have been accredited by APWA.
The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence and continuous improvement of the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and its employees, and provide a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
There are 416 policies and management practices applicable to Brookline Public Works that are part of the accreditation process.
“The Department of Public Works dedicates itself to continuous improvement and excellence, and the heroes of this accomplishment are the staff members whose mission is to provide reliable, cost-effective, high-quality services and programs that protect public health, maintain customer confidence, and support a prosperous economy,” said Commissioner Chute.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period. Semi-annual updates are required to demonstrate continued compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.
APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:
- Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, the agency undergoes an internal review of its practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual.
- Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application.
- Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices to an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices.
- Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
- Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendations from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.
“Brookline Public Works provides the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, connected, vibrant, safe, and livable community,” stated Town Administrator Carey. “Accreditation through APWA is a rigorous process to ensure that we provide exceptional services, make continuous improvements, and follow best practices into the future.”
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About APWA
The American Public Works Association is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 33,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America.
