Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald To Step Down From Role

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald will resign from his position as the top executive in the community with six months left in his contract, a town source told Patch on Tuesday night.

Fitzgerald had not been present at Select Board meetings for the past two months.

Gino Cresta, who has been working as the Acting Town Administrator, is expected to continue in that role at the beginning of 2025.

Fitzgerald served as the town administrator for the past eight years — working as a self-proclaimed agent of change at the same time he often clashed with longstanding members of town government and municipal staff as he championed fiscal discipline in an effort to lower tax rates, increase the town's bond rating and sought to bring more diversity to town staff.

The Select Board is scheduled for an open meeting on Wednesday night following an executive session during which time members may talk about Fitzgerald's pending departure.

Former Select Board member Peter Spellios addressed Fitzgerald's tenure on social media on Tuesday night.

"Sad day for Swampscott," he posted on his personal account. "Almost eight years ago my colleagues and I hired this guy not knowing what great things he would bring with him. Almost eight years later he is leaving for the best reason of all — to spend more time with his three boys — but he is leaving Swampscott in a far better place.

"Good things happened in abundance because of Sean's vision and leadership — not because of me or any former or current Select Board. If you don't believe me — check back in a couple of years and let me know how you feel then."