Zidelis to retire as Worcester’s CFO
Grant Welker
Worcester City Hall as seen from Allen Court across Franklin Street.
Thomas Zidelis is the latest person to retire from Worcester City Hall.
The city’s CFO had served for 32 years. His last day will be March 9.
He joined the city staff in 1986, was appointed assistant treasurer and tax collector in 1990. Later, he was promoted to treasurer.
Zidelis left the city briefly in 2006 for a position at the Worcester County House of Correction, but returned two years later as CFO.
He came back to City Hall to assist the administration weather the Great Recession and strengthen the city’s financial situation in the near term and to withstand future economic challenges, according to City Manager Edward Augustus.
Over the past decade, Zidelis has worked to raise the goals of the city’s financial plan, Augustus said.
At the close of last year, Worcester reported a general fund balance of $48 million. Additionally, under his leadership, Augustus said the city has built its excess levy capacity to more than $19 million, as well as building capacity to handle future downturns in the economy, he added.
The city has received four bond rating increases, achieving an AA rating from Fitch, the highest in the city’s history. Most recently, Zidelis served as a member of the team responsible for bringing the Worcester Red Sox to the city, committing countless hours to negotiations and financial planning, Augustus added.
The search is underway for a new CFO.
His retirement comes on the heels of City Solicitor David Moore's retirement earlier this month after nearly 30 years on the job. Michael Traynor, who had been the city’s chief development officer and CEO of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority since 2014, was named the new city solicitor.
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