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Public gets opportunity to weigh in on budget, manager search

Date: 3/19/2012

March 19, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — It's a week full of public hearings for the town of Longmeadow.

On March 19, Town Manager Robin Crosbie will present the proposed fiscal year 2013 (FY13) budget, while the next day, the Select Board will host a hearing to discuss the process of finding Crosbie's replacement when her contract expires at the end of June.

The budget hearing will take place in the Community House auditorium at 6 p.m. The Select Board's regular meeting will follow at the same location.

Crosbie presented her budget proposal to the Select Board on Feb. 23, suggesting a $56.6 million figure that represents a 3.57 percent increase over the FY12 budget and would require $343,318 in free cash to balance.

Crosbie declined to comment on the budget when contacted by Reminder Publications, explaining that residents would be able to review all aspects of the budget and have the opportunity to ask questions at the public hearing.

"The budget will be completely explained at the public hearing," she said.

FY13 budget information is also available at www.longmeadow.org/government/select-board.

On March 20 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, the Select Board will allow residents to voice their questions and opinions on the Town Manager search.

The board has been discussing the process through which it will choose a new Town Manager since Crosbie announced on Oct. 6, 2011 that she would be exploring new employment options in anticipation of the expiration of her current contract.

Selectman Marie Angelides, who has been charged with overseeing the search, explained that the primary purpose of the meeting is to allow residents to voice their opinions on the direction of the town and what goals should be set in the near future.

"We want to focus the conversation on what challenges and issues Longmeadow will be facing in the next three to five years," she said. "By having these discussions, we think we can not only effectively find the right person, but we can help that person better understand what is happening in town and what the goals should be going forward."

Angelides added that the Select Board would offer residents a complete description of the process it has decided upon as well as a timeline.

The role of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at University of Massachusetts Boston will also be explained. The Select Board voted on Feb. 15 to retain the Collins Center at a cost of $14,000 to the town.

"The Collins Center's purpose is to help facilitate the process and direct us on how to properly conduct our search. They will also help direct the search committee on what they can legally do," Angelides said.

She added that the Collins Center's ability to dip into a larger regional and national pool of candidates is an asset.

"I know there is a feeling in town that we want someone who is familiar with and has a connection to Longmeadow, but I think we need to look at the largest pool of applicants possible and the Collins Center has the connections and the expertise for us to do so," she said.

The search committee, which the Select Board voted to create based on the Collins Center's recommendations, is expected to be fleshed out this week as well. The Select Board voted to form the committee consisting of one union representative, one department head, one member of the school committee, one member of the finance committee, one Selectman and three members appointed by the non-participating Selectmen.

Angelides stressed that the Select Board has the final say in choosing the next Town Manager.

"The Collins Center is not making that decision and neither will the search committee," she said. "The search committee is doing the ground work to bring the list down to four or five candidates to bring before the Select Board, which will make the decision."

While the meeting is the first formal invitation to the public to speak on the matter, Angelides said the board is open to any future discussions.

"We're emphasizing that participation throughout the process will make it more thorough and ensure that the town's interests are heard," she said.



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