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Date: 2/21/2022
LUDLOW – With current Town Administrator Ellie Villano set to retire on Feb. 25 and Marc Strange selected as the finalist to fill her seat, the Ludlow Board of Selectmen discussed the upcoming transition process with an expected break between Villano’s final day and the new administrator’s start date.
Before discussing the transition, board Chair Bill Rosenblum said the first step is to work out the contract details at the next meeting.
“I know that we still need to meet probably next Tuesday to go into executive session to discuss the contract itself for our new town administrator,” he said.
Should all the details be approved in the executive session, Villano said the board could approve the contract at that meeting.
“If the first time you see it is in executive session you can go in, if you all approve it and there are no issues with it, when you come out you can sign it publicly, if there are any issues then obviously you are going to have to negotiate it back and approve it at the next meeting,” she said.
While the contract is finalized, Villano said one member of the board would have to take over some of the day-to-day operations including payroll and signing bills.
“Beyond the contract you do have to take some steps to keep the town functioning in the event that it takes several weeks to approve things,” she said.
Rosenblum said he had full confidence in the department heads to handle their departments during the transition.
“If it is week or two, I think the department heads will be able to handle their departments because it would be like you are on vacation. If it goes longer, I still have the utmost confidence in our department heads but also have confidence in our HR director and town accountant to handle some of those things as well, but obviously we appoint someone from the board to oversee at the same time,” he said.
Board member Derek DeBarge offered to take over the duties during the transition time between town administrators.
“If it does get drawn out, I know with my situation I have told Mrs. Villano and some of the staff in our office that I will be in to help with whatever is necessary,” he said. “If Ellie is not here, I will be here.”
The board unanimously agreed to appoint DeBarge to oversee payroll and bills until the new town administrator is hired.
During the meeting the board also reviewed the warrant for the May 9 Town Meeting, which includes many of the standard articles from the annual Town Meeting, including approving the budget, approving Chapter 90 funding for the roads, acting on outstanding committees and more. Villano then went through some of the items that require more attention.
“The two articles before you are a possible easement grant for a Santini Drive subdivision and then to establish a revolving fund for the commission on disability. A month or two ago the board did allow for the establishment of a budget up to $3,500 but they have to have an established revolving fund for them to accept grants, gifts and expend their funds,” she said.
For the Planning Board, Villano said there were three requests for zoning changes at 2224 Hubbard St., 604 Chapin St. and 279 Cady St. Among the other regular items is a vote to allow Westover Golf Course to use its retained earnings.
“It is kind of a short warrant this year,” Villano added.
The board unanimously approved the warrant for the annual Town Meeting.
The Ludlow Board of Selectmen next met on Feb. 22 and coverage of that meeting will appear in the March 3 edition of The Reminder.