City Of New Rochelle Names Its Next City Manager

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The acting New Rochelle city manager can cross out the word "acting" on his business cards.

After a monthslong executive recruitment effort, the New Rochelle City Council announced Thursday night their unanimous selection of Wilfredo Melendez to be the next city manager. The current acting city manager/public works commissioner was chosen from a field of around forty candidates from a dozen states, which was recently narrowed down to three choices.

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"We are delighted to welcome Wilfredo Melendez as our next City Manager," Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert said. "During the past six months, while serving in the dual role of Acting City Manager and Public Works Commissioner, Wilfredo brought a unique blend of professional expertise, integrity, and humility — qualities that make him the ideal leader for this pivotal chapter in New Rochelle. His dedication to addressing some of our City's most urgent infrastructure needs, coupled with his deep commitment to collaboration, has united our Council and exceptional staff around a shared vision. With Wifredo at the helm, we are excited to see New Rochelle continue to grow and evolve, knowing that his leadership will drive us forward and put our community first."

Melendez has served as acting city manager since April of this year, overseeing New Rochelle's departments and presenting the draft 2025 budget to the city council earlier this month. He also served as the commissioner of public works since February 2023, directing the various bureaus that maintain the New Rochelle's physical facilities and infrastructure, including Administration, Central Garage, Engineering, Property & Grounds, Sanitation & Recycling, Sewers & Drains, Streets & Highways and Traffic Services.

"I am truly honored to accept the role of City Manager for the City of New Rochelle," Melendez said. "The dedication of our Mayor, City Council, skilled professional staff, and vibrant community has built an incredible foundation, and I am privileged to help shape our next chapter together. I've seen the strength, resilience, and potential of this City firsthand, and I’m committed to using my experience and passion for New Rochelle to build on our successes, tackle new challenges and guide us toward an exciting future."

Melendez received his Bachelors in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College.

Prior to joining the City of New Rochelle, he spent sixteen years as deputy director of the Bureau of Water Supply-Water Treatment Operations South at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, where he oversaw critical water treatment facilities that supplied all of NYC's drinking water. Melendez also has prior experience in the private sector, working at a construction firm as a project manager, superintendent, and engineer on several multi-million dollar projects for the NYC Department of Design and Construction, the NYNJ-Port Authority, and the NYC Department of Sanitation. He began his career in 1989 at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection as a resident engineer, managing water main, sewer, and roadway construction projects throughout the five boroughs.

Reporting directly to the city council, New Rochelle’s city manager serves as the chief executive officer for the city and assumes full responsibility for all activities and operations of the city government based on policies and priorities established by the city charter, mayor and city council. New Rochelle was supported through the recruitment process by Strategic Government Resources, a local government consulting firm.

Melendez will assume the position on December 1.