Marc Roy resigns as Hydro director

Roy was a Westmount consultant when, Danny Ponzo, then Hydro director , became seriously ill. Ponzo died tragically early and Roy agreed to stand in for him at first, but subsequently agreed to stay on.

“I originally came on a two-year contract,” he recalled this week, “but it was subsequently extended.

“However, I have wanted to resume my consultancy and I hesitated until the demerger was through and again when Fred Caluori retired.”

Among his achievements, Roy considers the renewal of the relay and metering sytems in the sub-stations to be one of the highlights. Two have been completed and a third is nearly finished. Old electro-mechanical equipment has been replaced by state-of-the art vacuum devices.

Roy specialized in manufactured electrical products as a consultant, and he expects to concentrate on this field in future.

“Marc has put a big thumbprint on the city,” said Director General Bruce St. Louis. “He was an interesting choice coming from a private industrial background to run a department of the City.

“It has proved to be a happy marriage.”

City Councillor Patrick Martin, Commissioner of Utilities and an engineer himself, regards Roy as “a rock” who leads an increasingly highly technical department with great skill.

“Hydro is a $25 million-a-year business and a lot of the network is 80 years old. He has managed it well,” Martin added.

The directorship vacancy was posted at the end of last month. Applicants have until mid-August to respond when the City will create a short list and begin the selection process.

“We have a protocol and a team in place,” St Louis said. “We hope to appoint his successor so that they can work together for some weeks before Marc leaves.”

Westmount has had to replace three other department chiefs in the past year; Public Security and Public Works have now been filled.