SWAMPSCOTT — The town has appointed Amy Sarro and Patrick Luddy as the new finance director and treasurer/collector, respectively, after the departure of Ron Mendes, assistant town administrator for finance.
Sarro has served as the town accountant for a year.
“I have come to see Amy as a really strong colleague,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald at Monday night’s Select Board meeting. “She is somebody that I frankly believe gives good advice. She’s clear with her analysis. She’s got a strong background in finance. She continues to work to improve her knowledge, and I think she can really help us build upon the foundation we’ve laid over the last few years to help Swampscott balance our financial priorities.”
Board Chair Peter Spellios agreed, saying that he thought Sarro’s experience would help Swampscott continue to improve its financial standing.
“I appreciate her enthusiasm and seriousness and willingness to take on the task,” he said. “Your acumen and your focus on how to further improve systems and the way in which we budget and the way in which we account, the way in which we administer is going to be really, really important.”
Sarro thanked the board, who voted unanimously to approve the appointment, saying that she has already started thinking about ways to improve the town.
“I have a lot of really great plans to bring the Finance Department up to a level that I feel the town really needs,” she said.
Luddy has worked at the town hall for three years, starting as an intern while he finished his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Fitzgerald noted that Luddy will receive his master’s degree in accounting in the coming weeks.
“He has demonstrated an extraordinary work ethic,” Fitzgerald said of Luddy. “He is a really keen, focused professional. Having somebody of his ability to help us manage our finances and really grow into a strong leadership role is going to be critical.”
Luddy, who was also voted in unanimously, said he was excited to continue his position with the town, and that he had learned a lot through his work in Swampscott.
“It’s really opened my eyes into the municipal world and all the challenges that all the cities and towns in Massachusetts and across the country face and Swampscott’s unique challenges,” he said.
The two positions were vacant after Mendes announced in April that he had accepted a position working for the City of Newton. He has worked for Swampscott for seven years, and was appointed assistant town administrator in 2017. He will start his new position as city treasurer on May 17.
Select Board members thanked Mendes for his work with the town over the years.
“Before Ron came here, some of the things we’ve done are night and day,” said board member Don Hause. “Through his hard work, we’ve really transformed the way we’re doing things financially in this town, and I think we’ve clearly seen the tangible benefits of it fiscally.”