New Rochelle City Council Names New City Manager

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Longtime New Rochelle City Manager Chuck Strome celebrated the close of a long and distinguished career in style presiding over the city's annual Thanksgiving parade. Now, his replacement has been named.

The City Council has appointed current Deputy City Manager Kathleen Gill to take over for Strome when he officially retires at the end of the year. Gill will take office on January 1.

The appointment comes after a nationwide search, but Gill is a familiar face in New Rochelle. She was first employed by the city in 1995 as Assistant Corporation Counsel, promoted to Deputy Corporation Counsel in 1996, Corporation Counsel in 2009, Chief of Staff in 2015 and Deputy City Manager earlier this year.

Gill has also served as General Counsel to Iona University.

"I have known Kathleen for 27 years and have been consistently impressed by her intellect, energy, and determination to get things done," Mayor Noam Bramson said in a statement announcing Gill's new leadership role. "She has been a valuable asset to the City government, with progressively larger responsibilities, and an unmatched depth and breadth of knowledge about municipal challenges and opportunities. For these reasons, Kathleen is well-positioned to extend New Rochelle's positive progress on multiple fronts. I look forward to working with her to ensure that the coming year — her first as City Manager and my last as Mayor — is successful, both for her new leadership team and for our community as a whole."

Gill's predecessor, likewise, indicated that he feels confident that he is leaving the city in good hands.

"I am thrilled that the City Council has appointed Kathleen Gill as our next City Manager," Strome said reacting to the apointment. "Kathleen has served at my side for many years as Corporation Counsel, Chief of Staff and Deputy City Manager and has the experience and expertise to lead the City into the future. She has earned the respect of our staff as well as many community partners. I wish her the best of success in the years ahead."

For her part, Gill said that she has a very personal stake in doing the very best for her hometown.

"New Rochelle is dynamic, inclusive and forward-looking. I have always been grateful for the privilege of working and raising my family here," Gill said. "I look forward to continuing to advance the important initiatives already underway at Chuck’s direction and to build on this strong foundation. I’m thrilled to work collaboratively with and serve alongside Council, staff and our community partners as we make our New Rochelle the best it can be. I know the future is bright for our great city."