Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 4/4/2022
LUDLOW – After nearly three weeks on the job, new Ludlow Town Administrator Marc Strange sat down with Reminder Publishing to discuss the transition and the work currently going on in town.
So far, Strange said he has enjoyed his experience on the job.
“It’s been great, I have been energized working so far, the days go by super quick, the hours go by quick. There’s a lot of stuff that was left that needs to be taken care of that has a deadline because Town Meeting is coming up, we are finalizing the budget and there’s a bunch of other stuff that needed to be addressed early in the transition,” he said. “I love it, I feel like every day we are getting more done and every day we are moving forward slowly but surely; it’s been great.”
With prior experience in Agawam as the planning and development director and as a member of the Longmeadow Select Board, Strange said he has been prepared for the transition to town administrator.
“Being a department head for seven years in planning and development and then three years with the select board, I was exposed to a bunch of stuff with respect to municipal government, but you never really know until you are in the seat, but I have been happy with the learning curve from the municipal stuff,” he said.
Strange added that his biggest challenge has been being in a new town, learning new processes and meeting new people.
One short term goal Strange said he is working on is improving technology across town.
“My primary goal is to leverage our technology platforms in a way that makes things more efficient, specifically we are going to be going to the selectmen to request funding for a few things coming up, including a new website and new permitting software,” he said.
Along with upgrading technology in town, Strange said the town is also working on a facilities condition assessment to evaluate the condition of town buildings.
“Without a facilities manager for the town, the buildings could have been maintained better over the years and I think we are coming to a flashpoint now where the roof in Town Hall is leaking and some of the other buildings are showing the wear and tear of a lack of maintenance,” he said.
With other important positions in town being filled, Strange said he is looking forward to the future of the town.
“We have a new superintendent of schools starting, I’m looking forward to working with him, I think the Department of Public Works [DPW] is going to be hiring a new superintendent soon. Those are really important positions, and I am looking forward to collaborating with those people to try to figure out what we can do to move the town forward,” he said.
Despite also applying to Enfield, Lee and East Longmeadow for town administrator and town manager vacancies, Strange said he set his heart on Ludlow for the job.
“I was a finalist in East Longmeadow, but this was the job I wanted, I feel at home here. It reminds me of my hometown where I grew up. I get the people – the people that I’ve met I understand them in a way that you don’t always understand people as you’re going through life,” he said. “I felt instinctually this was going to be a good fit and after a couple weeks I was right. Luckily, the Board of Selectmen chose me to do this.”