LEWISTON – The city will lose a 26-year public works veteran in August when Chris Branch steps down.

Branch, who spent 18 years as head of the Public Works Department and the past year as the public services director, gave City Administrator Jim Bennett a seven-week notice Wednesday.

“From a convenience standpoint, it’s not the greatest thing,” Bennett said. “We have so many projects going – it’s not a good time to lose someone with so much talent and experience.”

Branch will go to work for Technical Services Inc., an Auburn engineering and land planning firm.

“We’re happy for Chris, but we’re disappointed at the same time,” Bennett said.

Branch is currently managing $25 million worth of projects for the city, including water and sewer line projects and road work, Bennett said.

“I’m not worried about projects not getting finished,” Bennett said. “He’s giving us seven weeks, and we have people on staff that can cover all the jobs we need covered. But it is a tremendous loss.”

Bennett split the city’s Public Works Department in half last year. The new Public Works Department was put in charge of day-to-day operations – for example, road work in summer and plowing in winter.

Branch was put in charge of the Public Services Department and tasked with managing city projects as if they were private projects. His department bid for some work alongside private contractors.

“What we did was try and build that department around Chris’ strengths,” Bennett said.

He said he would start looking for ways to replace Branch next week.

Branch could not be reached for comment Thursday.