The Select Board unanimously appointed Patrick Luddy as the town’s finance director and Kathleen Dupont as the town clerk. 

Luddy and Dupont are filling positions left vacant after Amy Sarro and Jared LaLiberte departed their roles as finance director and town clerk. Both received enthusiastic support from the board. Select Board Chair Katie Phelan was not present for the vote.

Select Board Vice Chair Doug Thompson called it “the long-awaited fulfillment of two key positions in town government.”

“This is a really great opportunity, and I want to thank the board and town administrator for supporting this,” Luddy said. “I’m looking forward to the additional responsibility, and it means a lot. It’s very humbling to be trusted with that. I’m looking forward to doing a lot of great things, contributing in new and different ways.”

He began as an accounting intern while completing his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting at Salem State University and starting his master’s degree in accounting at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

In 2019, Luddy became the assistant town accountant, and nearly two years later he was promoted to town treasurer/collector. Town Administrator Nick Connors noted that Luddy has been acting as a finance director as well since Connors was appointed. 

Luddy joked that the seven years “sounds longer than it feels for me.”

“Patrick, you started as an intern and you worked your way up the ranks. It’s really been exciting to work with you and see you learn and see you grow in the role. You’ve saved the town millions of dollars with bonding,” said Select Board Member David Grishman. “We really look forward to working with you and seeing your expertise continue to build.”

Thompson agreed, adding that Luddy provides “extremely consistent, high-quality advice and work product.”

“Patrick, you’re a shining star,” said Select Board Member Danielle Leonard. “You’re an outstanding human. I’ve really enjoyed all of my interactions with you, always professional, always pleasant, always wanting to help. I appreciate that.”

Connors said Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Eric Kinsherf, who was serving as Swampscott’s temporary town accountant, will now “put together a proposal that is more focused on supporting Patrick in the role.”

“They’re happy to figure out what’s the best way to support his needs going forward,” Connors said. 

Thompson acknowledged that it is “wonderful” that Luddy will fill the finance director role, but that it does in turn “create an opening for another role.”

During his town administrator report, Connors updated the Select Board that a qualified candidate that the town decided not to move forward with for the finance director position has had an initial discussion with Connors “to see if there’s any interest” in the town treasurer position. The job has been posted on Tuesday in the meantime.

Connors also said there are six applicants in the screening process currently for the assistant town accountant position.

Dupont most recently served as the assistant city clerk in Beverly. Prior to her work in that position, she was Beverly’s administrative elections officer. She also worked in Peabody as a city greeter and within the office of the city clerk.

Three months ago, Dupont joined other Massachusetts clerks in Washington, D.C. to make a case for sustained election funding to keep systems safe and accountable. 

“She comes highly recommended from elected officials and a couple of folks that work in City Hall,” Connors said. “She has also sought and been completing designations we will be lucky to have: certified municipal clerk, certified Massachusetts municipal clerk. We’re very fortunate to have a qualified candidate like this to have come to us.”

Mike Brison was serving as the interim town clerk since LaLiberte stepped away. Thompson called the transition “seamless,” and those at the meeting clapped for him.

Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher noted how “very, very fortunate” the town is.

“Not only do we have a rock star in Patrick, but clearly we hit the lottery in having (Dupont) come to Swampscott,” Fletcher. “We have a history of having really wonderful clerks, so you have big shoes to fill, but clearly it’s not going to be an issue for you.”