At the Needham Select Board meeting on October 22nd, Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick informed the Board that she intends to retire next summer. After almost 35 years with the Town of Needham, including 23 as Town Manager, Fitzpatrick shared she has decided to seek some new adventures.
Fitzpatrick will work closely with the Select Board over the coming months to help manage the transition process. The Board will discuss plans for the search for a new Town Manager at their next meeting on November 12th. “The goal is to ensure a smooth transition so that we can continue to serve Needham residents with the same excellent level of service they have been accustomed to,” she said.
“Working for the Town of Needham has been a great honor. I have worked with so many colleagues for whom this work is more of a calling than a profession or a volunteer opportunity,” Fitzpatrick said. “Needham is truly an amazing place to live and work, and of course, as we like to say, it is also incredibly well managed and that is thanks to the contributions from so many dedicated volunteers and employees.”
“We are deeply grateful for Kate’s service to the Town of Needham,” said Select Board Chair Kevin Keane. “She will leave very big shoes to fill.” Keane said that members of the Select Board will begin discussions on the next steps for filling this role when they meet again on November 12th and will start to consider how to appropriately recognize Fitzpatrick’s tremendous contributions to the Town that span over the last three decades.
"Kate's retirement is a big moment for Needham because twenty-three years ago, Kate being named as Town Manager was also a big moment for Needham,” said Keane. “Kate Fitzpatrick is Needham's first Town Manager and she made the role her own. She imbued it with her professionalism, high standards, principled ethics, and intellectual honesty. The Needham I grew up in was challenged, like many towns were, by budget swings, Proposition 2 1/2, and layoffs. Kate tamed all those tigers and she is a testament to the fact that "good government" is great government."
Keane added that the Select Board is committed to keeping the community updated on the process to appoint Fitzpatrick’s successor.
