Swampscott Select Board Chair Tabbed For Salem Sustainability Post

SALEM, MA — Swampscott Select Board Chair Neal Duffy has begun his new role as Salem's new Sustainability and Resiliency Department Director.

Duffy, who recently said he is not running for re-election in Swampscott, said in a release on Tuesday that he is "blown away by the breadth and depth of the efforts happening here" as he looks to implement the goals of the Salem Climate Action Plan and the city's Resilient Together collaboration with Beverly.

"I feel incredibly fortunate, honored, and humbled to join such an amazing team of dedicated professionals in the Sustainability and Resiliency Department," Duffy said.

Duffy served on the Renewable Energy Committee in Swampscott as a volunteer starting almost 20 years ago, serving as its Chair for six years, and was elected to the Select Board in 2020. He was chosen as the Select Board chairperson in 2022.

He also was a member of the Master Plan Committee, the Facilities Consolidation Task Force and the K-12 Task Force in Swampscott.

Duffy recently worked for the Green Communities Division of the state Department of Energy Resources where he was a Northeast Regional Coordinator.

"While there I helped to administer the Green Communities Designation and Grant program and
served as DOER's liaison to multiple municipalities in the Greater Boston area, including Salem," he said. "I am excited to meet all of you in the coming days, weeks, and months, and to start working with the purposeful urgency required to meet the challenges we all face together."

Duffy said on his Facebook page that the new job in Salem "which will require an immense amount of my focus and time" contributed to his decision to step away from the Swampscott Select Board.

"After several weeks of internal debate, contemplation, and reflection, I have decided that I cannot reasonably balance these responsibilities with those that come with serving on the Select Board," he said. "For the last three years, I have been honored and humbled to have been entrusted by my fellow residents to participate in and influence so many important decisions that impact their lives and the direction of our town for years to come."

Duffy added that he plans to continue to serve as a town meeting member, volunteer and engaged citizen in Swampscott "to help our community continue to move in a positive direction."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)