City DPW head Dennehy takes town of Milton post

Michael Dennehy, the city of Boston’s director of public works for the last two years and a Milton resident, was voted in as that town’s administrator last week, leaving serious considerations like municipal contract negotiations on the table. Dennehy, a Dorchester native with 20 years in the DPW, would be leaving just before winter descends on the region.

City of Boston officials are not commenting on plans for the department at this point in negotiations.
In a statement, the Milton Board of Selectmen highlighted Dennehy’s “exceptional leadership,” calling him “an innovative public administrator. [We] look forward to working with him on public safety, economic development, education, veterans and seniors affairs, and technology, among other issues,” the statement read.

In his October interview for the administrator post, which was archived on Milton Access TV, Dennehy said, “It was great to see both sides of city government, both from the constituent side and out in the field. I pride myself on being out in the field more than I’m in City Hall in a chair. Working with the people, I understand what it takes to deliver services to constituents.”

Dennehy’s 2014 appointment caused some controversy in Boston given its residency policy, which requires city employees to live in Boston proper. Earlier this year, Mayor Martin Walsh strengthened the policy, compelling all top office holders to resided in Boston while allowing some who lived in the suburbs, like Dennehy, to be grandfathered in.

The administrator acts as the chief administrative officer for the town of Milton, with its 27,000 residents, according to the job posting. Boston payroll data pegged Dennehy’s salary at $124,000; current administrator.

Annemarie Fagan, who will stay on to help with the transition to Dennehy’s stewardship, is paid $160,000, town officials said. Milton and Boston officials said Dennehy’s contract negotiations are under way.


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