Duxbury’s own Buildings and Grounds Manager Peter Buttkus is the new Director of the Department of Public Works. Town Manager Richard MacDonald made the announcement Monday night at the selectmen’s meeting.

MacDonald said it came down to two candidates and that he chose Buttkus, who has worked for the town since 1994. Buttkus has been the acting DPW Director since the former director, Tom Daley, left for Newton in March.

Buttkus started with the town as the director of Lands and Natural Resources and then six years later he was given the added responsibility of managing the town’s buildings and grounds. He served as acting DPW director once before from 2001-2002, before Daley was hired. At that time, Buttkus did not apply for the director’s position.

Before coming to Duxbury, Buttkus worked for ten years for John M. Corcoran Management Company in Braintree, a large property management company, at which he directed the landscaping maintenance of 30 apartment communities and office parks. Buttkus received a degree in arboriculture and park management from UMASS Amherst/Stockbridge School of Agriculture.

Buttkus said he is “very excited” about his new position.

“It’s a huge responsibility,” he said. “The whole process has been very exciting and humbling. People have been very supportive.”

As DPW director, Buttkus will oversee seven departments including the transfer station, the highway department, the cemetery/crematory, the water and sewer departments, town buildings, lands and natural resources, vehicle maintenance and DPW administration.

Currently, Buttkus is involved in the development of the new Damon well, the cemetery expansion project, which, he said, is almost sixty percent complete, and the Mayflower Street water main and new Birch Street water tank. When he took over as acting director this spring, he was faced with implementing the new pay-as-you-throw trash program.

The 48-year old married Hingham resident and father of two teen girls said his priorities for future projects include a new or expanded crematory and updating the DPW facility.{sidebar id=1}

Buttkus said a new crematory will be completed in Plymouth within two years, so Duxbury’s crematory, the only one serving the South Shore and Cape Cod, will have some competition. To keep up, it will need to be renovated or replaced.

“It’s a huge project,” said Buttkus.

Town Meeting voters approved $500,000 for designing an expanded crematory a few years ago.

In announcing Buttkus’ appointment, MacDonald acknowledged the help of the DPW director search committee consisting of Selectman Andre Martecchini, Finance Director John Madden, Conservation Administrator Joe Grady, Carol McCarthy of the Transfer Station Advisory Committee, Paul Brogna of the Highway Safety Committee and Mike Pakstis, a Duxbury resident and DPW Director in Wellesley.