Honoring a community partner

Clear communications and working together with local village and town officials, customers and residents always plays a part in a project’s success. Take our Northwest Nassau Natural Gas Integrity Project for instance - a multi-year complex construction job to modernize the gas system in Northwest Nassau County on Long Island.

For the past several months, the Village of East Williston residents have experienced our activities related to the project firsthand. One of the key stakeholders the project team reached out to before work began in the village was Jim Bailey, the Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent and 34-year Village employee, who passed away this past February.

“We worked closely with Jim on this project and respected him and his experience,” said Brian Sapp, Government Relations Representative for Nassau County. “He loved his community and it was evident in all our dealings with him.”

When Jim unexpectedly died in February, the Northwest Nassau team decided to approach East Williston Mayor Bonnie Parente about beautifying the Village Green and planting a tree there in Jim’s memory.

"I was excited to see National Grid wanted to give back to the community and also honor Jim,” said Mayor Parente. “Our Village is small and close-knit, and it touched my heart that National Grid would consider such a personal gesture. This act of generosity and kindness made us realize National Grid has caring and compassionate individuals who felt our loss as we did.”

So, on June 11, with mulch, flowers, and a Yoshino Cherry Tree in hand, National Grid employees beautified the Village Green in Jim’s memory. Joined by Mayor Parente, Jim’s sister Clare, and Simon Blanco, the current DPW Superintendent, it was a fitting tribute to a man who loved his job and took pride in the beauty of his community.