SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board strongly praised Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald during his performance review for fiscal year 2023 at its meeting Wednesday night.
Select Board Chair David Grishman read a report that consolidated feedback from all five of the board’s members.
“Sean loves the Town of Swampscott and loves his role as town administrator,” Grishman read. “Despite facing much adversity for the last year, Sean comes to work each and every day with a smile and exuberance for his job, remaining positive and optimistic for the future of our town.”
Grishman listed different events in town that the report described Fitzgerald as a driving force behind, such as the Pride Day 5K, Swampscott Porchfest, the Juneteenth Celebration, and the Christmas parade. He also recapped Fitzgerald’s role in working with the Swampscott Housing Authority to create modern public housing and the issuance of a request for proposal for a veterans’ housing initiative.
Board member Peter Spellios commended Fitzgerald for his consistent attitude and effort regardless of the situation.
“You could fall out of a plane blindfolded and you would land pointing north,” Spellios said. “Your compass is undeniable.”
While the board’s members expressed much admiration for Fitzgerald’s work ethic, they also said it can be a weakness.
“I think the number one takeaway from all of us was the idea of delegation and time management,” Board Vice Chair Katie Phelan said. “You have created a strong team around you that has the ability to take on more, and that will afford you more time to take on more important things.”
The review requested that Fitzgerald improve his communication, listening, organization, and time-management skills.
Toward the review’s conclusion, Spellios made a motion to grant Fitzgerald a discretionary bonus of 4.5% of his salary, the maximum amount he could receive.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ve recently satisfied the goals,” Spellios said. “It doesn’t mean that they’re done, doesn’t mean that they’re perfect… you keep changing the finish line in a very healthy way for us.”
The motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Board members Doug Thompson and MaryEllen Fletcher voting against it because they thought a bonus of 3.6% of Fitzgerald’s salary would be more appropriate.
