Newton Mayor-Elect Fuller Fills Final Two Senior Positions

NEWTON, MA — Mayor-Elect Ruthanne Fuller Friday announced two final senior positions were filled in her cabinet. She hired Newton resident Jonathan Yeo to fill the senior staff role as chief operating officer and Linda Plazonja will be joining the senior staff of the new administration as citizen assistance officer.

"We are looking forward to Monday when we will be getting to work officially for the City of Newton,” said Fuller in a statement just days before she was due to be sworn into office in a City Hall ceremony on Jan. 1.

Last week she announced she'd hired Maureen Lemieux to continue as chief financial officer, Dana Hanson, to fill the role as director of community engagement & inclusion, Ellen Ishkanian to the role of director of community communications and Noah Rivkin to fill the role executive aide to the mayor as members of Fuller’s senior staff.

Jonathan Yeo

Yeo is a member of the city’s Planning and Development Board, and is chair of the city’s Community Preservation Committee. For the past 12 years he has managed the state Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Division of Water Supply Protection, overseeing a staff of more than 165 employees in seven statewide locations with 100,000 acres of land and a budget in excess of $25 million, according to the mayor-elect's press release. Prior to this position, Yeo was a senior manager at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Yeo served on the Newton School Committee from 2005 to 2013, leading school building improvement planning and contract negotiations. His experience as a member of the senior leadership team at a large state organization has given Yeo expertise in planning, water and sewer infrastructure, facility management, contract negotiations, and communications. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he earned a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government with a concentration in Environmental Policy.

“Jonathan brings with him 30 years of management experience working at the MWRA and DCR, as well as experience working on elected and appointed boards and committees in our city,” said Fuller.

Yeo and his wife Gail, who have two adult sons, live in a Newtonville with his parents. Yeo will officially start in his new position the week of January 15 to allow for a transition period in his state management position.

Linda Plazonja
Plazonja, a Brookline resident, comes to the citizen assistance officer position with extensive related work and educational experience. She was the executive director of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund and chief executive officer and division president at the National Kidney Foundation of New England. She also served as a clinical intern at both an adolescent transition program in Boston, Casa Myrna Vasquez, and at the Home for Little Wanderers. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Social Work from Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work.

“And Linda’s background as a licensed social worker will be an asset as she works to help connect residents with the services and assistance they need,” said Fuller.

Linda and her husband Jonathan have two adult sons and have lived in Brookline for more than 30 years.

Previously on Patch:

Newton Mayor Elect Announces Senior Positions In Her Cabinet

Photo of City Hall courtesy of City Hall.