Select Board welcomes new assistant town administrator

Jun 6, 2023

The newly hired assistant town administrator was introduced at the June 5 Select Board meeting.

Chris Vitale, who was previously the assistant town manager in Leicester, was selected to fill the vacancy left by former Assistant Town Manager Cody Haddad, who exited in January to accept the Town Administrator position in Halifax.

The town came to an agreement with Vitale in March of this year. He officially started two weeks ago.

“Being here two weeks and you’re still here, that’s a good thing, a good start,” Select Board member Shawn McDonald joked.

McDonald said he was blown away by Vitale’s interview, where he presented five, 10 and 15 year plans for the town.

Prior to serving in Leicester, Vitale was the Economic Development Coordinator and later the Director of Economic Development and Communications in Bristol, R.I. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Iowa.

Vitale, who lives in Rhode Island, earned praise from Select Board members.

“I’m very pleased he has grant writing experience,’’ and has worked at managing grants and proposals, Select Board member Heidi Silva Brooks has said previously.

“We saw something special in you,’’ Select Board member Stanley Mickelson said. “You’re not going to disappoint us, I’m sure of it.