Howard County Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jim Irvin, and his wife, Janet Irvin, finance director, announced their respective retirements effective June 30, 2020.

Jim Irvin has worked for Howard County since 1975 and has served in his current role since 1989. Angela Price will be appointed acting director for finance; and Tom Meunier will be appointed acting director for DPW. His legacy includes opening the Little Patuxent Waste Reclamation Plant; and earlier in his career, as a bureau chief, the landfill at Alpha Ridge. It was the first landfill in the county created for the sole purpose to be a permitted landfill operation.

As director, he ushered in single stream recycling in the county causing recycling participation rates to soar. Additionally, Irvin has provided leadership in overseeing emergency response operations during multiple weather events such as blizzards, snow storms, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, derecho and a train derailment in Ellicott City. He has been a critical member of the county’s emergency response and recovery efforts, including the 2016 and 2018 Ellicott City floods.

Janet Irvin has served in her role since January 2018. Her 30-plus years of public service include 20 years with Howard County Government and the Howard County Public School System. Additionally, she worked more than 10 years with the state of Maryland, serving as chief financial officer for Maryland Environmental Service and deputy director of finance for MDOT State Highway Administration.