Melrose Resident Named New Stoneham Town Administrator

The Stoneham Select Board Wednesday night capped off one of the most historic days in town history by picking Dennis Sheehan as the new Town Administrator. Sheehan, a Melrose resident, is currently the Director of Administration and Finance for the Department of Public Works in Watertown.

Earlier Wednesday the Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to help fund a new Stoneham High School, one of just 12 school projects in the state to get approved this year. Throw in the Super Bowl victory at Gillette Stadium to start the month and December has been good to Stoneham.

"It's a tough, tough call," said Select Board chair Shelly MacNeill while praising all three finalists. Sheehan beat out Somerville Alderman William White and Lynnfield Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin for the position. All three had final interviews this week with Curtin speaking before the board Wednesday.

Part of what worked in Sheehan's favor was his Mendum Street residence, just over the Stoneham line in Melrose.

"He's already been participating in our community," said MacNeill.

Board member Anthony Wilson praised Sheehan and said there were, "many aspects of his backround that I really like." And George Seibold said, "Dennis just had something about him." Caroline Colarusso supported Sheehan as well but her choice would have been Curtin, partly because of Lynnfield's success with MarketStreet.

"I liked the way each candidate did their homework," said Seibold. "They were all strong."

Sheehan got his college degree from the University of San Diego and his masters in Public Administration with a City Management Focus from the University of Southern California. He's worked in his current position in Watertown since 2014. Sheehan replaces Thomas Younger who left the position in October.

Sheehan's appointment is pending a back round check and successful contract negotiations.

Photo of Lynnfield Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin by Bob Holmes