Chief Delehanty Named Interim Town Manager

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

In a very supportive atmosphere, Police Chief Terence Delehanty has been appointed to serve as the interim town manager for a three-month period.

Tuesday night,  the Town Council held an executive-session meeting for the purposes of discussing personnel issues. When they emerged into public session they announced that Delehanty will fill in with the town-manager duties, at the same time he will remain the chief of police.

“It’s a good choice. Terry will do a great job,” said Councilor Paul Varone.

Deputy Chief John Goodwin, who left the Revere Police Department a few months ago to join the Winthrop police, will continue in his position and help manage the department. Part of his job description states that he will step up in the absence of the police chief.

Delehanty takes over for former Town Manager James McKenna, whose last day was on Tuesday, and  will stay on as a consultant to the town until May when his contract runs out. He has served as town manager for the past nine years.

Delehanty will keep his $160,000 salary with no increase for dual duty.

“He’s a very capable department head, and will be as town manager,” said Council President Russ Sanford.

Sanford said the search for a permanent town manager begins at the next council meeting when a search committee is set up.

Tuesday after Labor Day,  when the town staff returns to work Delehanty will hold his first staff meeting.

Delehanty holds a law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law. He is also a graduate of North Shore Community College and UMass Boston, with majors in criminal justice. He has a master’s certificate in public administration and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

He’s also been on the police department for the past 26 years and became chief in 2009.