I have it from a very good source that Meaghan Maher, Mayor Setti Warren’s director of community engagement, is no longer working for the administration. Her last day was Friday.
I will update when I have a confirmation but I’m very confident that it’s true.
Update: Dori Zaleznik, the mayor’s chief administrative officer, confirmed that Meaghan’s last day was Friday.
More: I’ll take this opportunity to say that I hope the mayor replaces Meaghan with someone who understands the importance of and excels at communications and communication strategy. I don’t have a full glimpse into the mayor’s office anymore but I occasionally call or email with questions from Village 14. It has become a lot more difficult to get even the easiest of questions answered. I understand that I’m not going to get the same treatment I got when I was editor of the TAB and I don’t expect it. But given the Village 14 stats and issues, and the practical guarantee that everybody who reads V14 votes (and has friends who vote), I would think we’d be an important constituency. I hope that Mayor Warren understands this.
I never knew she had a first day. But Meaghan good luck.
Among Meaghan’s responsibiities were working with the media and, I believe, organizing community events. She replaced Aaron Goldman when he became director of performance management but the job was restructured from what Aaron had been doing.
Here’s a memo Dori Zaleznik sent to the BOA Friday:
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that Mayor Warren fill this position with someone at the top of his or her game. A good communications person will understand what’s going on in all the mayor’s constituencies and tell him what he needs — not wants — to hear.
You think people don’t tell him? That stuns me to hear you say that. Trust me, no one who works for this city hears anything other than what we “need to hear”, much less the Mayor.
I am sad to see Meghan leave. I thought she was terrific at community outreach. I think it is, however, interesting that she gave notice about a month ago, and we are only hearing about this now and it looks like the Administration already has someone in mind – since they plan on making an announcement in September. I don’t think the position was ever advertised.
I didn’t work with Meaghan much but when I did she was very professional and a pleasure to work with. I wish her the best!
Meaghan was lovely and will be missed. One correction: she did not replace Aaron. She replaced Ana Gonzalez, who replaced Sarah Ecker. Megan Costello may have also been in this position – I can’t recall what her job was… This position has had tremendous turnover. Surprised?
Meaghans outreach in the Tab was a good reason to pick it up and read it – she was doing a great job.
@Native Newtonian
Seems to me town hall has a tremendous turnover, period.
This is one tough job but a great stepping stone for a young person. Best of luck to Meghan.
Newton is a great place to work in many regards, but the community is not easy on the employees. No complaint is left unspoken, no mistake left unexamined (at great length and publicly), and rarely do compliments come your way. The exception are parents, the vast majority of whom develop positive relationships with individual teachers.
I too enjoyed Meaghan’s weekly columns and her professional demeanor. I think the hardest thing about sudden departures by City Hall employees is that those of us who would like to never get a chance to say goodbye and wish them well. Ádh mór ort, Meaghan.
@Simon….my point, exactly.
Please think about what it’s like to work with the people who blog here. There are consequences.