Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | April 4, 2022 | wbjournal.com $60M investment "Cybersecurity threats such as ransomware are forcing businesses to think differently about their data infrastructure." C E N T R A L M AS S I N B R I E F V E R BAT I M Housing market "February was the eighth month in a row where the number of homes sold declined while the median price continued to rise." Tim Warren, CEO of Peabody real estate data firm The Warren Group, about the Massachusetts housing market. In Worcester County, the median single-family home price rose to $370,000 in February while the number of sales dropped 4%. Nationally ranked "UMass Chan Medical School is experiencing an unprecedented moment in its history." Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, after U.S. News & World Report ranked the school 10th for primary care education in the country Paul Flanagan, CEO of Marlborough cloud storage company Nasuni Corp., after the firm received $60 million from New York investor Sixth Street Growth to help meet rising customer demand Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus to resign PHOTO/GRANT WELKER BY KATHERINE HAMILTON WBJ Staff Writer C ity Manager Edward Augustus will step down from his position effec- tive May 31, the City of Worcester announced March 22. Augustus is the sixth city manager and has served in the role since 2014. e City's announcement didn't give a specific reason for his departure, nor did it specify what his plans are aer he steps down as city manager. During his tenure, Augustus spear- headed several development projects, most notably leading an effort to attract the minor league Pawtucket Red Sox team to the city and build the $160-million Polar Park baseball stadi- um in Worcester's Canal District. He also sanctioned the improve- ments made to the Worcester Public Library and oversaw the construction of a new elementary school and two new high schools, according to the City's announcement. In his work to modernize city gov- ernment, he created the Office of Urban Innovation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Sustainability and Resilience, the Department of Public Facilities, and the soon-to-be Transportation Depart- ment. "In 2014, I took on the responsibility to lead this city with a sense of opti- mism and excitement that I remain committed to in the months ahead. I am profoundly grateful for the trust and faith of the City Council, the city family, and the residents of Worcester. As I turn over the responsibilities of this role to the next person, I do so with the strongly held belief that Worcester's future is strong and bright," Augustus said in the press release. e city manager is appointed by the city council and serves as the CEO and director of finance for the city, implementing city council policies and providing organizational leadership. It is the highest-paid position among city employees, according to 2020 data. Assistant manager eyed as interim e Worcester City Council consid- ered on March 30 to appoint Assistant City Manager Eric Batista as interim City Manager, potentially filling in for Augustus. e council decided to wait on the decision until a future meeting. Batista was appointed assistant city manager in October 2021 and serves in the role alongside Assistant City Man- ager Nicole Valentine. He has worked for the city since 2012, beginning as a project manager. Batista is also the director of urban innovation, and was appointed as interim chief diversity officer earlier in March aer Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Williams announced her resignation. Naming an interim city manager will give the City Council time to search for a new permanent person, while still maintaining city leadership during the search process. e last two city managers, Augustus and Michael O'Brien, served as interim city managers before taking on the role permanently. City Manager Edward Augustus conducts a press conference after the opening of the DCU Center field hospital in 2020. W Eric Batista, Worcester assistant city manager

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