For Immediate Release: 1/10/2025 2:12 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – City Manager Eric D. Batista announced Friday the historic appointment of Alexandra H. Kalkounis as the first female City Solicitor effective Jan. 13.
Working for the municipality for more than 13 years, Kalkounis started as an Assistant City Solicitor in April 2011 and worked her way up to Deputy City Solicitor in August 2021.
“Kalkounis is a seasoned attorney with a proven track record of contract negotiations, policy updates, litigation, and management,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “She has been an asset to the Law Department since her start in 2011. I look forward to now seeing her lead the department with honor and integrity as we continue to grow as a city and bolster our municipal operations.”
During her tenure, Kalkounis spearheaded the municipality’s implementation of a recreational marijuana program as Chief Legal Counsel drafting marijuana host agreements, local laws, policies, and procedures; led complex eminent domain projects for major road improvements and reconstruction projects including Belmont Street, Grafton Street, and Kelley Square; worked on various zoning ordinance amendments, such as Urban Agriculture; and various land use and construction projects including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Union Station platform project.
“I am honored to take this role and grateful for the opportunities I have received throughout the years that have allowed me to grow professionally and reach this point in my career,” said Kalkounis. “I am excited to be a part of the City Manager’s vision for Worcester during this transformative period and ready to start implementing policies that will positively impact the community for years to come. I am thrilled to be leading the law department in this next chapter.”
Kalkounis has played an integral role in contract negotiation and management, preparing contracts for projects related to engineering, water and sewer, parks, the Worcester Public Schools, and software and licensing agreements. Additionally, she has worked closely with housing and neighborhood development divisions, the cultural division, small business division, among others, to create loan and grant documents to support the awarding of grants, including the recent federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. She has prepared and issued numerous legal opinions and interpretations over the years to city administration, including advising employees from all departments and the various boards and commissions.
Kalkounis graduated from Suffolk University Law School where she received her Juris Doctor and Boston University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar. Kalkounis is a first-generation Greek American. She succeeds Michael E. Traynor following his 37-year tenure with the municipality.
