Plymouth Honors Foreman for 20 Years of Service

Since the Coronavirus outbreak, Plymouth Township’s sanitation crew is on the front lines caring for the community, wearing gloves and masks and social distancing to prevent any potential virus spread, while ensuring residents’ waste service needs are met. Sanitation Crew Foreman Mike Frank, who has been at the helm of the team for the last four years, works alongside staff to make sure things run smoothly every day.

Frank, of Plymouth Township, was recognized during Monday’s virtual Plymouth Township Council meeting for 20 years of service. He began as a laborer on June 12, 2000 and was promoted to foreman in 2016, according to Public Works Director Christopher Loschiavo.

“He wasn’t the most senior guy, but he was the most qualified guy,” Loschiavo said. “In my opinion it was a no brainer.”

Frank embodies the spirit of a team player every single day. In fact, Loschiavo said Frank told him “we’re a team, it’s not about me,” when it came time for the Council to honor his years of service.

“He just brings with him every day this positive attitude and absolutely loves what he does,” Loschiavo said. “He’s just a family guy who cares about his family, but he really cares about this family too and that’s what makes him special.”

Residents feel a special connection with the public works team, often calling or emailing to share gratitude. In Plymouth Township, the public works crew “watches out for everyone,” Loschiavo said. In 2019, a resident penned a deathbed letter, thanking them for their tireless service and asking them to look out for his wife.

“That’s special and unique about municipal connection,” Loschiavo said. “We have a message that we always say, one good deed a day. When everyone does one good deed, we have 27 good deeds a day.”

And Frank, as the sanitation foreman, is committed to his team, serving residents, and consistently improving.

“He takes trash as serious as anything,” Loschiavo said. “Mike calls me every day. Before this social distancing, he would always come in my office and say, ‘how can we do it better?’”

Frank imparts the same work ethic on his team. Several employees recently retired. Four new employees have been hired to fill the openings. Frank has taken them “under his wing” to teach them the job, Loschiavo said.

“He’s engaged and he’s completely accountable,” Loschiavo said. “He owns everything he does, good or bad. People look up to him.”