Burlington Welcomes New Town Administrator and Leadership Changes at Town Hall

Burlington's municipal offices are in a period of transition as the town heads into summer with a new Town Administrator and Assistant Town Administrator.

Chances are, you haven't given much thought to the administration of the town of Burlington and the people behind its functioning. But Town Hall is filled with people who support the town's ability to provide services for residents and respond to their needs and concerns. And chief among them is the Town Administrator.

Towns in Massachusetts are governed by a Select Board and a Town Meeting, which serve as the executive and legislative branch of Town Government. The Select Board appoints the Town Administrator (some towns have a Town Manager instead; their functions are similar, though a Town Manager has wider authority), who liaises with all the departments to ensure smooth running of the municipality.

Burlington's long-time Town Administrator, Paul Sagarino, announced in February that he would be departing for a new role in a nearby municipality. Sagarino was Town Administrator for six years but worked for the town for two decades; notably, he was instrumental in the town's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in ensuring the town's drinking water is plentiful and free of impurities.

Sagarino left these parting words for the Town of Burlington:

"It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Burlington for almost twenty years. I am grateful for the lifelong friendships I have made with my coworkers, elected and appointed officials, and residents alike. The Town of Burlington will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to watching the Town’s future success from afar. Thank you to the Select Board for their unwavering faith in me over the years, thank you to John Danizio for being the best assistant and friend anyone could ever have, but most of all, thank you to our employees past and present, who are the true unsung heroes of Burlington for their amazing dedication and effort in providing the great services that our residents deserve."

The Select Board recently named Sagarino's Assistant, John Danizio, as the new Town Administrator. This, said Select Board Chair, Mike Espejo, is the hallmark of strong succession planning: having an experienced member of town government ready to fill in the role and make a smooth transition when their predecessor is ready to move on.

At the May 5 Select Board meeting, the Select Board appointed a new Assistant Town Administrator, who will fill John's shoes and continue this cycle of succession planning.

Patrick Lawlor comes to Burlington from Andover, where he currently serves as the Chief Administrative & Financial Officer. "There isn't one part of local government that he hasn't overseen," said Select Board Member, Jim Tigges, calling him a "well-rounded candidate." He'll begin his work at Town Hall on June 1.

Other notable departures this spring are Gary Gianino, Treasurer/Collector, whose role will be filled by former Assistant Treasurer/Collector, Ana Maria DeRosa, and Christine Shruhan, the Director of Youth & Family Services. David Langford will rise into the role of director after Shruhan's retirement.