SHUTESBURY — A new superintendent to oversee the town’s public works, just the third person to be in charge of the Highway Department since 1979, has been appointed by the Selectboard.

Based on a unanimous recommendation from the Highway Superintendent Search Committee, the Selectboard voted 2-0 last week to name Steve Sullivan, a current equipment operator for the department and a town resident, to succeed Tim Hunting. Hunting, who began his tenure in Shutesbury in September 1999, is retiring.

Sullivan thanked Hunting for his 24 years of work for Shutesbury.

“He laid the framework so that my job is super easy,” Sullivan said. “The town looks the way it did and does because of Tim.”

Highway Superintendent Search Committee Chair Meryl Mandell told the Selectboard that the hiring committee interviewed two candidates on Sept. 11.

“We were happy to have a couple of good candidates to consider,” Mandell said.

She said that descriptive comments about Sullivan, who served on both the Shutesbury and Amherst-Pelham Regional school committees, included “totally dependable and punctual,” “has served as a mentor to new highway staff,” “supports lifelong learning,” and “handles conflict well, stays professional in tough situations.”

“While both candidates rated very highly, Steve Sullivan rated the highest,” Mandell said.

When Hunting was hired, he succeeded Gary Dihlmann, the superintendent for 20 years and a Highway Department employee for 26 years.