ITEM FILE PHOTO
Sean Fitzgerald is pictured in this December 2016 file photo.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Sean Fitzgerald is looking forward to his first day as town administrator in Swampscott. His first day of work is Feb. 27.
“With any job, I think the first couple of weeks is really exciting,” said Fitzgerald, who signed a four-year deal. “I’m eager to really work with the board of selectmen. They have a lot of busy plans and they’ve been working incredibly hard to support the town with a number of projects.”
Fitzgerald, who was town manager in Plaistow, N.H., and is a Peabody resident, said it’s hard whenever there is a position that’s been open for an extended period of time and the staff is pulling double duty. He hopes to give them support.
The new town administrator anticipates a busy first few weeks after taking the helm, which he said will include contacting local officials and stakeholders in Swampscott and on the North Shore. He also looks forward to working with the Council on Aging and the school department. Change is always a challenge, Fitzgerald said. He said he cares deeply about Plaistow residents and was honored to serve in an important position there.
But the lifelong resident of the North Shore said working in the seaside town will give him a chance to spend more time with his family, which includes three young sons. Fitzgerald spent much of his childhood in Swampscott. His grandmother was a nurse at Hadley Elementary School for decades and his mother grew up on Bay View Drive.
“The major expectation is really proactive leadership,” said Naomi Dreeben, chairwoman of the board of selectmen. “We’re expecting that he will be picking up the initiative on moving our projects forward, both the things that are in motion and the things we’re interested in doing in the future.”
Dreeben said project priorities for Fitzgerald will include forward movement on the development of the former Machon Elementary School and old Swampscott Middle School on Greenwood Avenue. He’ll also be involved with school officials’ plans to bring a new school building to town.
Town officials are also interested in possibly acquiring White Court, or the former Marian Court College, for an open space use. Dreeben said he will be involved in the reuse of other buildings in town as well.
Under the terms of his contract, Fitzgerald will be paid at a prorated rate for the remainder of fiscal year 2017, based on a salary of $128,500. On July 1, his annual salary will increase to $129,800.
Fitzgerald’s pay will increase each year on July 1 as outlined in the contract, with him set to make $132,400 in the final year. His contract expires on June 30, 2020, and will be up for renewal with the selectmen then. Fitzgerald’s performance will be evaluated publicly by the selectmen semi-annually during his first year of employment and every year thereafter on or before Oct. 1, according to the contract.
If Fitzgerald wishes to terminate his contract before it expires, he must give written notice to the board of selectmen at least 90 days in advance. His employment can also be terminated by the selectmen before the contract is fulfilled under the town charter, according to the deal.
Before becoming town manager in Plaistow in 2008, Fitzgerald served as chief of staff to former Peabody Mayor Michael Bonfanti. He was hired in nearby Saugus in 2015, where he served less than a week as town manager. He was sworn in a day before a recall election that unseated four of the five members of the Saugus Board of Selectmen. His contract was voided a week later after the four new selectmen were sworn in. Saugus reinstated Town Manager Scott Crabtree, who was fired by the previous board. Fitzgerald was reinstated in Plaistow.
Fitzgerald was hired by the selectmen in late December. He is replacing former Town Administrator Thomas Younger, who left in mid-October for the same job in Stoneham.
Gino Cresta, department of public works director, has been serving as interim town administrator. Town Accountant David Castellarin, who also serves as assistant town administrator, has been in charge of the budget during the interim.
“It was a great experience,” Cresta said. “It was great working with the board of selectmen. It was great having their support and it was a great learning experience for me.”
Dreeben called Fitzgerald a very high energy person. She said the selectmen have been meeting with him about once a week for about a month to catch him up on what’s happening in town. He’s also been meeting with town staff and administrators including Cresta and Castellarin.
Dreeben also expressed her appreciation for Cresta taking on the role of town administrator, in addition to his duties as department of public works director.
“Gino is wonderful to work with,” Dreeben said. “Gino has been really stepping up and he’s doing two jobs. I’m delighted that he’s been able to do this for so long, but I don’t want him to get burnt out. I want him to have a reasonable job.”
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Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.