When Manuel Branco became a part of the newly established Department of Public Works in 1973, the department had five members and had yet to settle in an office.

Manuel Branco confirmed that he will not accept a three-year renewal on his term at the Board of Public Works where he's been a member since 2002.

Prior to that, he worked with the Department of Public Works, eventually serving as the superintendent before retiring in 2000. Branco announced that he would not be returning to his position during Monday night’s Select Board meeting.

“His service to this town has been far beyond that of most people. We owe a deal of gratitude for his service,” said Chairman Shawn McDonald.

McDonald said that while many know the history of Dartmouth because of the 350th anniversary celebration that occurred last year, many still don’t know the history of the individuals who have served the town.

Branco said that he had been serving Dartmouth since the Department of Public Works was first established.

He became an employee of the town in 1973, working as an engineer. It was at that time that the town created a Department of Public Works, which was initially staffed by five people.

“We had a very small group of people, and we ran all over because we didn’t have a place for us to stay,” said Branco. “We started at the town hall. We went to the library. Finally, we came to the new building that we had when we built the wastewater treatment plant.”

He said he was happy to see the town grow as much as it has since he first arrived.

“When I came to this town, it was just barely 10,000 people. Now look at what we have. The whole town has grown tremendously,” he said.

He considers his work on the wastewater treatment plant the highlight of his career. While he said he wasn’t involved at the beginning of the project during the mid ‘70s, he was involved with the plant’s expansion years later. He called the expansion, which nearly doubled the capacity of the plant, one of his greatest accomplishments.

“We have, no doubt about it, the best department in the Town of Dartmouth,” said Branco, adding that the department is run by good professionals. “This town is very lucky to have the people who are working for the town.”

Members of the Select Board expressed their gratitude at the meeting and awarded him with a plaque thanking him for his service.

“I’m in awe of your presence whenever you’re at a meeting or how you can control a meeting,” said Select Board member Stanley Mickelson. “Hopefully we can use some of your guidance in the future.”

“It’s important to see that people who serve this town have served for a number of years — not just one or two, but ten, twenty, thirty years,” said McDonald, adding that Branco not only worked for decades, but then returned to volunteer on a board. “There’s continuity there that makes a department a better one.”

Branco said he intends to relax and travel now that he’s fully retired. But during his farewell, he mentioned to the Select Board, “To be honest with you, I always say if you have a problem, give me a call.”