A visionary for Rockland.

The City of Rockland is on its way to renaming one of its essential infrastructure facilities for the director who heads it – a man who, according to City Councilors, is one of those unique individuals giving of themselves for a better community.

Pending any unforeseen retraction during the Second and Final readings of upcoming Council sessions, the sign at the intersection of Tillson Avenue and Captain Spear Drive will one day announce “The Terrance G. Pinto Wastewater Treatment Facility and Campus.”

As Council acknowledged Pinto for his 20 years of service to the City during the Monday, Nov. 9 council meeting, they also unanimously approved the facility dedication in First Reading.

Councils change, said Councilor Ben Dorr. Employees come and go, and individuals redetermine their priorities on a daily basis. Yet, it’s people like Pinto who allow Rockland to look further ahead and be better as a community, according to Dorr.

Twenty years ago, Pinto came to Rockland, tasked with integrating the sewage plant into the community as opposed to presenting a facility resembling a state prison with a smell.

“I promised that I would stay three years to try to get that done, and I’ve been here 20 years,” said Pinto.

Along the way, he has assimilated a desire for beauty into every project set before him, according to Councilor Valli Geiger. Other projects, always with the city in mind, take place off the clock. Once known as the anonymous tree planter who deposited seedlings in the ground with stealth, Pinto estimates that he’s planted approximately 300 trees in Rockland.

“It is so rare, I think, to find people who always do practical, pragmatic work with an eye toward beauty,” said Geiger. “We share a view that beauty in design makes a huge difference in how people see a city, a place to live, a place to walk. I thank you for that.”

Councilor Ed Glaser jested that the Treatment Facility should be named “Pinto’s Playland” because of his view of the facility as just a place for him to experiment, do better things.

“I can’t find anybody else, probably in the city, who enjoys doing what he does as much as Terry does,” said Glaser.

Because of Pinto, the wastewater treatment facility is “a heck of a lot better than it used to be,” he said. And, according to Glaser, Pinto puts the same energy and commitment into every undertaking.

“Every time there’s a sewer project, it’s never just a sewer project,” said Glaser. “It’s also a sidewalk project or a road project or a city improvement project. They’re not simply mechanical adaptions for what we need. They do always go towards the end of trying to make the city a better place to live.”

A sage, a renaissance man, an ambassador for Rockland with wisdom, experience, and friendship, according to councilors. However, Pinto said he couldn’t have made his mark without the open minds of previous mayors, councils, and citizens.

“Thank you so, so much,” said Pinto, as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.“I love you all and I love this community, and I will continue as long as I can to make it a wonderful place to live.”

The City of Rockland Wastewater Treatment Facility, located on a parcel of land at 40 Tillson Avenue (identified as Rockland Tax Map 1C4) is hereby named the Terrance G. Pinto Wastewater Treatment Facility and Campus.

See also: 

Terry Pinto builds ecology with birds, trees and Rockland wastewater

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com