Delehanty Won’t Take Town Manager’s Job

The search for a new town manager is already underway, after Terence Delehanty, who has acted as the town manager and the police chief for the past nine months, informed Council President Ron Vecchia that he wants to be the police chief only.

“After long hard consideration, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that I need to withdraw from consideration to become the next town manager for Winthrop,” Delehanty wrote in an email. “I look forward to continuing my service to the town as police chief.”

This announcement comes a week after a Suffolk Superior Court jury ruled in favor of a female Winthrop police officer in a gender discrimination case against the town and Delehanty. The jury awarded $2.3 million. There is no word yet on whether or not there will be an appeal.

Vecchia said Delehanty “has brought new respect for town government and new positive direction and atmosphere in Town Hall.”

Vecchia did ask that Delehanty continue in his dual role as interim town manager and police chief for a smooth transition and support in addressing several major issues facing the town. Delehanty had been named town manager a couple weeks ago and was negotiating his contract with the town.

“There have been a lot of comments in the past week,”Delehanty said. “But my integrity and professionalism in any position I take goes without question.”

Vecchia said the process for finding another town manager is underway with the search committee.