Twice on Monday people stood to applaud Law Director Joseph Martuccio at his final council meeting. The first ovation occurred after Councilman Greg Hawk, D-1, announced the law director’s impending retirement and thanked Martuccio for his work. The second came after Martuccio’s roughly 10-minute speech.

“I’m an Italian-American, a lawyer, an actor and a politician. I can’t not say something,” Martuccio said to laughter as he began. Canton’s longest-serving law director, with 18 years as director and 30 years with the Law Department, will retire Friday. Martuccio thanked city residents, regular council attendants and his “work families,” and said he plans to spend more time with his immediate family in retirement.