Chelmsford Select Board unanimously appoints Alex Magee as town manager

The Chelmsford Select Board on July 6 unanimously appointed Alex Magee as the town’s next town manager after interviewing two finalists and holding a brief deliberation.

In a roll-call motion, Vice Chair Jeffrey Hardy moved to appoint Magee and begin employment negotiations; Clerk David Boisvert seconded. The motion passed 5-0. Chair Patricia Wojtas said she would meet with HR the following day to set contract criteria and called the vote a consensus decision of the board.

Magee, a resident of neighboring Westford, described more than a decade of municipal experience in Lowell, Hamilton, Arlington and Andover, citing work on capital projects and finance. “I would be very involved with [the community],” he told the board, listing participation in events such as the Fourth of July parade and routine engagement with boards, committees and legislative delegation contacts.

Board members praised Magee’s financial background and community relationships. Jon Kurland, citing favorable references from local nonprofit colleagues and city staff who have worked with Magee, said that the town “couldn’t go wrong” with either finalist but forcefully recommended Magee. Vice Chair Hardy emphasized that Magee turned down another job offer to pursue the Chelmsford position, calling that decision meaningful for the board.

The hearing also included an earlier interview with finalist Thomas Gregory, who outlined a municipal career spanning Worcester, Shrewsbury, Walpole, Spencer and Hudson and highlighted experience with debt exclusions, capital projects and forming regional partnerships. Gregory said he would prioritize early engagement with the community and department heads and described a 30-60-90-day plan emphasizing meetings with staff and review of capital priorities.

Both candidates fielded questions about Chelmsford’s fiscal challenges — including limited opportunities for commercial growth and a sewer moratorium that affects new hookups — and about regionalization, labor relations, and communications with the media and legislature. Magee said retaining the town’s AAA bond rating would be a high priority and described a combined approach of examining revenues and scrutinizing expenditures. Gregory described previous use of regional dispatching to address staffing shortages in Hudson and recounted involvement in a successful local override and capital programs.

The board’s formal motion to appoint Magee occurred at the meeting’s conclusion. The Select Board recorded the roll-call vote: Hardy—yes; Wojtas—yes; Boisvert—yes; Kurland—yes; Cunningham—yes. The board indicated it would contact both finalists about the outcome and proceed to negotiate Magee’s employment contract.

The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Recording Secretary Christine Martin Barraford filed the minutes and noted that candidate application materials are on file with the town manager’s office.