Here's who has been hired as Fall River's new city administrator
FALL RIVER — It’s been challenging to fill the city administrator’s position, but Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved Mayor Paul Coogan’s latest candidate for the second-most-powerful job in Fall River government.
Seth Thomas Aitken, who joined the city’s law team in May as assistant corporation counsel, will now be given a two-year contract as city administrator with a salary of $130,000.
Before the vote, city councilor and fellow attorney Brad Kilby said he’s known Aitken for several years and said the new city administrator’s strength is his communication ability.
“Your success is the city’s success,” said returning city councilor Joseph Camara to Aitken before the rare 9-0 vote.
City Council Vice Chairwoman Michelle Dionne said hiring Aitken shows that “Fall River can hire people for appropriate positions and thank him for wanting to work with us.”
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The last city administrator was Cathy Ann Viveiros, who served under three mayors: Will Flanagan, Sam Sutter and Jasiel Correia II.
Viveiros resigned in November 2019 after she unsuccessfully launched a write-in campaign against Coogan, an election in which he handily won against Viveiros and Correia, who was awaiting trial on federal corruption and fraud indictments.
Last May, longtime city resident Tim McCoy started his new job as acting city administrator on leave from his job at the Fall River Housing Authority until October.
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At least three of Coogan’s candidates for the job removed themselves before the Council took up the appointments.
Last week, Aitken said he’d met with each city councilor pending this week’s vote to discuss any of their concerns.
From the ROTC to Army engineer
After earning a bachelor's degree in industrial design from Syracuse University where he was involved with the ROTC program, Aitken served with as an Army engineer for eight years, where he said he received intensive leadership training.
Aitken said he passed the Massachusetts bar in 2009 then went on to serve with the Bristol County District Attorney's office under Sam Sutter for 2 ½ years.
He then went on to manage his family’s law firm in Worcester and currently does legal work out of New Bedford.
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“Certainly, understandably the question that frequently came up was about the budget. In terms of management and leadership, the legal background. I think they were all comfortable there,” said Aitken. “Obviously the never-ending saga of how do we fund the work of the city is real.”
While the city is working on replacing former CFO Mary Sahady, Aitken said there are very good people still on the financial team.
Coogan has enlisted help to craft the 2023 budget from Edward Iacoponi, who worked with former mayor Will Flanagan’s administration, including former city administrator and current city councilor Shawn Cadime.
Aitkin said that Iacoponi has a deep understanding, and historical knowledge, of the city’s finances.
“It’s a team approach. So that’s probably the focus I will have,” said Aitken.
Coogan last week expressed his confidence in Aitken.
“He’s got a good work ethic, he’s a fast learner and has good analytical skills,” said Coogan. “Where he might not have some specific areas that former city administrators have had, I think he more than makes up for it.”
A Swansea resident for the past 20 years, Aitken lives with his wife and three children.
Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River names Seth Thomas Aitken as city administrator
