A familiar face at Springfield City Hall is retiring. City Solicitor Ed Pikula worked for the Springfield Law Department for 40 years, including the last decade-and-a-half as solicitor. John Payne, a former Springfield solicitor and a retired judge, has been named as Pikula's replacement.
City Solicitor Pikula stated, “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City of Springfield and the Sarno Administration as City Solicitor. However, I am at a point where I would like to step back and devote more time to my family. Over the past forty years I have served under seven mayors and nine different City Solicitors. I can confidently say that no mayor has done a better job for our residents and business community than Mayor Sarno. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life and will work with Mayor Sarno and the new Solicitor to assure a smooth transition.”
“I am elated and our city is very fortunate to have retired Judge and First Justice of Hampden County District Court and former City Solicitor under the Mayor Mary E. Hurley administration take the reins of our Law Department, which in effect is a nearly three quarters (¾) of a billion-dollar city budget corporate counsel,” Mayor Sarno continued. “Between the institutional legal acumen of Judge Payne and Solicitor Pikula the city will continue to be well served with a smooth transition.