Healey Hires $90K ‘Heat Resilience Officer’ to Deal With Extreme Temps

As Massachusetts begins preparing to hunker down for another bliss-filled winter of snow, ice, wind chills, and high energy bills, Governor Maura Healey is apparently thinking long-term, like when the polar caps are finally gone, Pittsfield is beachfront property, and air conditioners outsell Ice Melt, snow shovels, and hot chocolate.

You see, Healey has just hired someone to teach us how to manage the heat for a cool $90,000 salary plus benefits and vacation time.

"As Massachusetts experiences hotter summers and more frequent, long-lasting heat waves, Governor Maura Healey today announced the appointment of Katie Schlick as Massachusetts' first statewide Heat Resilience Officer," according to a statement from Healey's office.

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"The new statewide role will strengthen efforts to protect residents, support communities, and prepare Massachusetts for extreme heat," the statement said.

Wait, what?

Massachusetts Is Only The Second State To Hire Heat Resilience Officer

If we need the Heat Miser to prepare us for the heat of summer, where was the Snow Miser just six months ago when New Bedford and Fall River needed the National Guard to help remove 41 inches of snow? It was so bad that Healey is still fighting to have Massachusetts declared a federal disaster area and eligible for federal relief.

READ MORE: Healey Urges Trump to Reconsider Massachusetts Blizzard Relief Aid

If you need further evidence that this is a crock, Massachusetts is only the second state to add a Heat Resilience Officer to the payroll. Arizona was first in 2024, but it's actually hot in Arizona. Really hot. For months at a time.

According to Extreme Weather Watch, Massachusetts is the 18th-coldest state in the nation with an average low temperature of 38.7 degrees.

"Extreme heat is becoming more common, more intense, and more dangerous in Massachusetts," Healey said. "We need to be ready for what that means for our families and communities."

State Climate Strategy and Leadership

Schlick will report to the state's Climate Chief, Melissa Hoffer, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, and work closely with MEMA and other agencies to "improve preparedness for extreme heat events and support communities across Massachusetts."

Funding and Background of the Role

Schlick's salary is funded "through generous support" of The Boston Foundation.

Schlick most recently "worked on federal and external affairs and led the resilience portfolio at the U.S. Climate Alliance," of which Massachusetts is a member, and did related work in the Biden White House.