Tisbury selectmen appointed a department of public works advisory board Monday evening in the wake of new legislation placing the DPW under their control.

Ian A. Aitchison, George J. Balco, Thomas W. Pachico, Tomar Waldman and David Willoughby will serve through June 2016.

All had been serving on the DPW just prior to the legislation passing.

“I want to really express the appreciation of the board of selectmen and town hall to the fact that you folks have signed on to this assignment . . . . you’re bringing a lot of expertise to this process,” selectman Melinda Loberg told the group with several DPW employees in attendance. “We will be really depending on your voice going forward.”

Since 1989 the DPW had operated independently from the selectmen under the supervision of an elected commissioners. Growing tensions over the performance of the department and its sometimes tangled internal affairs came to a head last winter when the town was inundated with complaints about poorly plowed streets following a spate of blizzards. At the annual town meeting in April, voters agreed to petition the state legislature to abolish the DPW as an independent body.

There was immediate fallout in the department, with all but one elected commissioner resigning. In June, DPW director Glenn Mauk resigned.

On Oct. 2, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker.

The DPW is responsible for trash removal, maintenance of town streets and cemeteries and operations at the wastewater treatment plant. Reorganization is still in the early stages.

“We have yet to fill out the structure and even the definition of this board,” said Mrs. Loberg.

Town administrator John (Jay) Grande presented a proposed new structure for the first time Monday evening that would divide the DPW into three departments: public works, wastewater and facilities management.

There also is discussion about possibly separating wastewater and having it supervised by the water superintendent. Mr. Grande said part of the problem for management of the department previously was that the director was expected to handle everything. By having specific foremen responsible for specific issues, the town can expedite problem solving. He also cited a need for more employees.

“It’s clear we’re looking at a tremendous need for additional personnel,” Mr. Grande said. “We don’t have the labor force in place to carry out the objectives.” He suggested hiring five more full time employees, bringing the staff from 15 to 20.

Selectmen invited the current employees to give feedback and share opinions.

“This is something that is going to require a little digestion,” said Mrs. Loberg. “We welcome, Jay welcomes particularly, feedback from this board and all the personnel that are here.”

Mr. Grande said that while care and attention should be paid to reorganizing the department in the best way possible, quick action is needed.

“We should have a sense of urgency to implement as much of this as we can . . . . to get things on a good track,” he said. “I’m concerned about upcoming winter and snow removal, I know you all have been talking about it.”

Some changes will have to wait for a town meeting to be authorized. Others, like the selectmen overseeing rate changes, are immediate.

Mr. Grande praised the staff for their resiliency during the change.

“The DPW staff has stepped up and carried on during a significant time of change, it’s greatly appreciated by me and Paul,” he said. “I know you’re here because this impacts on your work day, but I also know you’re here because you care.”

Mrs. Loberg said the reorganization will benefit the town as a whole, citing an example the new Monday weekly meetings among department heads.

“The town is just operating more as a unit,” she said.