New City Manager Gives Thoughts
Dear Editor and Chelsea residents,
On January 2nd, 2024, I will be sworn in as your next City Manager. I am deeply honored to serve in this critical role and want to thank the honorable Chelsea City Council for their trust and confidence in me to serve in this capacity. It is not something I take lightly.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Ned Keefe, our City Manager, for his support and dedication. Since I was selected as your next City Manager, I have met with Department Heads, our Public Safety teams, and our front-line employees. I am so proud to be joining a team with so many dedicated staff members that work hard every day to ensure the highest level of service is provided to our community.
Though for the last two years I have served as the Town Manager in Reading, Chelsea is my home. Prior to my service in Reading, I was the Commissioner of Dept. of Public Works here in Chelsea for five years. I came to Chelsea under the leadership of Tom Ambrosino and worked tirelessly for the residents of Chelsea including the hardest years of the pandemic. It was during that time that I witnessed firsthand the vibrant, resilient and tight-knit community that Chelsea truly is. The way community members banded together to support one another is representative of the values that I’ve witnessed time and again in every corner of our city.
Like many in Chelsea, I migrated to the United States as a child and witnessed the hardships of my single mother raising three children on her own. Watching my mother provide for my siblings and I by cleaning offices and without speaking English is a story that is all familiar to us. Her sacrifices are why I worked diligently to attend college and pursue a career in Civil Engineering. I worked in the private sector for 13 years as a civil engineer in China, Miami, Philadelphia, and Boston. In those 13 years, I learned the importance of providing excellent customer service. This is why I center our residents in every decision and will work hard to improve levels of service for Chelsea.
I am committed to serving Chelsea and improving the lives of all our residents. I am deeply committed to building strong connections with the City Council and with all of you, the heart and soul of this vibrant community. Chelsea’s strength lies in its diversity, rich history, and the resilience of its people. I am here to listen, learn, and work together with each one of you to address the challenges we face. I believe the best solutions come from within the community, and your voices are invaluable.
My goal is to work for all residents that call Chelsea our home, and to do so I need your active involvement and feedback. In the coming months, I will be holding regular meetings, open forums, and seeking input through surveys and various feedback mechanisms. My door will always be open to hear your concerns, ideas, and aspirations.
As we look ahead, I envision a Chelsea that continues to grow and prosper while preserving the essence that makes our city so special. We will work tirelessly to ensure all residents, especially those most in need, have access to essential services. We will improve municipal operations, invest in infrastructure, create economic opportunities, and support our small businesses. I am committed to transparent, accountable, and efficient governance that works for you, our residents.
Together, we will build a Chelsea that we can all be proud of, where every voice is heard, and every resident is valued. I want to reiterate my deepest gratitude to the City Council for the trust placed in me. I look forward to starting this journey together on January 2, 2024.
Respectfully,
Fidel Maltez