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Date: 12/28/2022
BELCHERTOWN – The Select Board is starting the process of trying to find a replacement of the current Town Administrator Gary Brougham who plans to retire when his current contract ends in June 2023.
The Select Board would also like to add more responsibilities for the next town administrator and eventually shift the position to a town manager.
Some responsibilities they want to add to the town administrator are appointment powers, personnel powers, budget making authority and the responsibility to do collective bargaining.
Belchertown partnered with Community Paradigm Associates, an organization founded to assist municipal, nonprofit and community entities.
Founder and Managing Principal Bernie Lynch and Senior Associate John Petrin from Community Paradigm Associates met with the board at their Dec. 19 meeting to discuss the next steps.
Lynch and Petrin put together a list of recommendations to help the board achieve a new job description that adds the new responsibilities for the town administrator.
Lynch said, “We think much of what you are trying to achieve is already in the job description. We do think there should be some type some type of inclusion in the new employee agreement that states the board’s intention to give more responsibilities.”
Petrin said that giving the town administrator more power for day-to-day problems can help the Select Board just focus on the bigger picture to help the town.
“This would include having the board not be liaisons for departments and committees by having the town administrator be the main point of contact for problems.” Petrin added.
Select Board member Ed Boscher added, “I think this boards best time is when we get together to do strategic planning. We are still listening to everyone; people can still reach out to us with a problem but most of the problems I receive I reach out to Gary anyway.”
Lynch mentioned that in most towns he assists, their town governments only meet twice a month and “that should be more than enough times. It takes a lot of effort, time and people to put together an agenda and meeting.”
The Belchertown Select Board currently meets every Monday each month but Select Board Chair Jim Barry added, “That could change.” Petrin said that the Select Board should only have to meet twice a month and have a strategic planning meeting every other month.
Barry said, “Our agendas would be less routine. We would not have to accept resignations or approve every appointment.”
Lynch said the next steps is for the Select Board to solidify a list of increased responsibilities and authorities for the next town administrator position.
Lynch said while the Select Board is making their list, him and Pertin will begin the search.
“We need to put together a position statement that will spell out details about the town, details about the position and issues that the town currently faces.” Lynch added.
Petrin and Lynch said they will talk to the Select Board, town administrator and human resources director to help figure out the problems that Belchertown may be facing for the next town administrator to help with.
Barry said that the town moderator will begin to put together a search committee to help Community Paradigm Associates find candidates for the town administrator.
Lynch added, “We will then start reaching out with emails and phone calls for candidates. We plan to get around 20 applicants. We will need the committee to help us sort through the resumes and a narrow it down for seven to eight people for us to interview. After that we recommend having at least three to four finalists to present to the Select Board to interview for the position.”
The Select Board will try to have the job description for the next town administrator ready by the end of December while Lynch and Petrin will begin looking for candidates for the job so that the process can be complete by June 2023.