Six city workers who have tackled everything from the taming the city’s rat problem to creating more healthy school lunches have won Sloan Public Service Awards — the highest honor bestowed on civil servants.
The winners were singled out for being “outstanding employees” and will be recognized on Tuesday with a ceremony at Cooper Union and receive a $10,000 cash prize.
“It’s incredibly exciting and a little overwhelming,” said Caroline Bragdon, who works at the city Health Department’s Bureau of Veterinary Pest Control Services.
Bragdon, 42, was cited for working with residents and community leaders on ways to reduce the rodent population — such as securing trash and compost in gardens. She has worked at the agency for almost 14 years.
“We always want to go for the root cause and avoid blind application of poisons,” she said. “No one wants to send their kids out to play or walk to school where rats will skittle across their toes.”
Michael Johnson, a maintenance supervisor for several NYCHA properties, said he is still shock.
“I love working with the residents, I love working with my staff,” said Johnson, 49. He oversees work at roughly 2,500 units at Lehman Village, DeWitt Clinton Houses and the Johnson Houses. “I like to give it my all.”
The awards are handed out each year by the Fund for the City of New York.
“The 2015 Sloan Public Service Award winners have selflessly used their staggering gifts to improve the lives of their fellow New Yorkers,” said Mary McCormick, president of the fund. “We also honor the sacrifices and essential contributions that career civil servants make every day.”
Other award winners include:
* Roxana Benavides, neighborhood library supervisor for the Sunset Park Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
* Charles Gili Sr., chief of operations in Brooklyn for the city Parks Department.
* Marsha Kellam, Queens borough commissioner at the city Administration for Children’s Services.
* Stephen J. O’Brien, director of Food and Menu Management at the city Department of Education.
