(READING, MA – March 25, 2024) – Reading is excited to announce new Town Manager Matthew Kraunelis. The long-time Town employee previously served as Assistant Town Manager and Director of Administrative Services and most recently served as Acting Town Manager following the departure of former Town Manager Fidel Maltez in December 2023.
In his nearly nine years in Reading, Kraunelis has overseen many Town Hall Departments. As the Director of Administrative Services, he managed a multifaceted set of functions including Technology, Operations/Procurement, Town Clerk/Election, Human Resources, and the Town Manager’s office. Kraunelis has also served as Reading’s Ombudsman since 2015, where he aided citizens in their day-to-day relations with the Town and handles communications, public information requests and media relations. He was promoted to Assistant Town Manager in November of 2022 and added management of the Town’s Community Development and Community Services Departments to his reporting line.
“Reading is an appealing community for so many reasons: a thriving downtown, excellent schools, and an engaged resident population that cares deeply about this town. I’ve been very fortunate to help build a solid foundation here in Reading with town staff and volunteers both elected and appointed, but there is still much to do to help Reading realize its full potential,” said Kraunelis. “The future is bright in Reading, and I’m excited to lead the way.”
Kraunelis has over 25 years of experience in law and government. Prior to working in Reading, Kraunelis worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation. He has also served in senior roles in state and local government including as the Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Methuen, as an Assistant General Counsel at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and as a three-term Methuen City Councilor. Before moving to the public sector, Kraunelis began his career as an attorney in private practice.
He is a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association and the New Hampshire Bar Association. He is also a panel attorney at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. A graduate of Merrimack College and Suffolk University Law School, Kraunelis is an active member of his community having served as a member of the Methuen Cultural Council, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Open Space & Recreation, Methuen Arts, Grey Court Poets, as well as other local organizations. He is the proud parent of two adult children.
