Top legislative Democrats centered on transportation expressed confidence within the management capabilities of Monica Tibbits-Nutt, who will take over as performing transportation secretary in two weeks after Gina Fiandaca steps down.
Gov. Maura Healey introduced Monday that Fiandaca, the state’s transportation secretary, plans to go away her place on Sept. 11 and serve in an “advising role” by way of the tip of the yr whereas Tibbits-Nutt steps in as performing secretary. During the interval as a MassDOT advisor, Fiandaca will proceed to gather her full secretarial wage of $181,722, a Healey spokesperson stated.
Healey provided no clarification for Fiandaca’s departure, however in an inside MassDOT e-mail despatched Monday, the secretary indicated she got here to the choice on her personal.
The high ranks of MassDOT make for a “good working lineup” through the secretarial transition, stated Rep. William Straus, a Mattapoisett Democrat who co-chairs the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.
Straus stated he’s happy — “at least initially” — with Tibbits-Nutt within the performing function as soon as Fiandaca leaves the administration,
“What matters most to me, and I think the public, is how will the work get done in the future and I’m satisfied that it’s going to continue to work as best as possible,” he instructed the Herald. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have problems at the T. Clearly, we do.”
Asked if the administration is ready to launch a seek for a brand new secretary, a Healey spokesperson stated we “are confident in the leadership we have with Monica Tibbits-Nutt taking on the role of acting secretary.” It is unclear presently if the administration would flip to an out of doors search agency, a call they may make within the subsequent few weeks.
State Sen. Brendan Crighton, a Lynn Democrat who’s Straus’ counterpart on the Transportation Committee, stated he has the “utmost” confidence in Tibbits-Nutt.
“[Tibbits-Nutt] has been pretty engaged throughout so I can’t imagine them skipping a beat in all of this,” Crighton stated whereas pointing to quite a lot of federal grants the state is pursuing and ongoing points on the MBTA. “There’s a ton of challenges, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve known Monica for a long time, worked with her really well, so I can’t imagine there’s gonna be much of a transition.”
Straus stated he’s taking a look at two key developments amidst the management shakeup — the approaching transition on the Massachusetts Port Authority, the place Executive Director Lisa Wieland plans to go away her job, and long-term discussions over the state’s commuter rail contract.
“For the administration and for the now acting secretary, because the secretary sits on the Massport board, those are the two longer lead issues that I think are out there other than the immediate ‘how are the trains running today?’” Straus stated.
Healey, in an announcement Monday, thanked Fiandaca for her service and stated MassDOT is in “good hands.”
“[MassDOT is] well-positioned to continue this important work with Monica Tibbits-Nutt as acting secretary, as she has a deep knowledge of our transportation system and a commitment to public engagement and equity,” Healey stated.
In an announcement supplied by the administration, Fiandaca stated she is leaving MassDOT “in capable hands” and “with an administration dedicated to addressing our transportation challenges by putting people first and a workforce ready to carry on this work.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”