Jay Ash, the former Chelsea City Manager who now serves as State Housing Secretary, has submitted an application for the position of Cambridge city manager, according to multiple news organizations reporting Wednesday.
The Globe confirmed with Ash on Wednesday that he is indeed pursuing this opportunity. However, Ash did not provide a timely response to a request for comment from the Record.
Since January 2015, Ash has been part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration from the start. His tenure has included efforts to bring General Electric to Massachusetts earlier this year, as well as work on transitioning homeless families from temporary motel stays into permanent housing arrangements—an initiative he also championed during his time leading Chelsea.
According to Ash’s comments to the Globe, his current role demands extensive travel throughout Massachusetts, making it difficult to concentrate on any single community. “fblikebutton_button” He explained that the position keeps him constantly moving between different locations to address the varied concerns of multiple municipalities.
The detailed problem-solving approach that defined his Chelsea tenure has limited application in his current statewide position.
A significant financial incentive accompanies the Cambridge opportunity. While Ash’s current compensation stands at approximately $160,000, the Cambridge city manager position offers a salary exceeding $300,000, nearly doubling his present earnings, the Globe reported.
The Cambridge City Council is expected to make a decision on the position by fall.
By Seth Daniel
Numerous media outlets reported on the development Wednesday.