PROVIDENCE — Mayor David N. Cicilline announced Tuesday that he has appointed Paul J. Thomas, West Warwick’s Public Works director, to lead the city’s Department of Public Works.

He succeeds John Nickelson, who is taking a position in the Federal Highway Administration’s office in Honolulu.

Thomas, 54, of 51 Gilcrest Drive, West Warwick, held his post in that town for nine years. In his new job, he will head a department with a $15.6-million budget and 100 city workers. A certified engineer, he is a graduate of the University of Rome, Italy.

In addition to his West Warwick position, Thomas previously worked as an engineering technician for the City of Cranston and as construction manager at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome.

“Paul’s management background and hands-on public works experience will make him a valuable member of my administration,” Cicilline said in a statement.

Nickelson was appointed by Cicilline in 2004. He announced in March that he was resigning. At the time, his department was embroiled in a controversy over department workers using city vehicles and property for personal use.

Three employees of the sewer division were suspended without pay following an investigation by WPRI-TV (Channel 12).

Nickelson stayed on until June, when he left for Hawaii to take a $100,000-a-year job in which he will monitor that state’s use of federal transportation funds. He was paid $103,595 a year as Providence’s DPW director.

Thomas will be paid a salary of $96,679. He is scheduled to begin his new job on July 14. City Chief Engineer William Bombard will run the department in the interim.

pmarcelo@projo.com