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Date: 1/11/2023
HUNTINGTON – Several Hilltowns are seeking candidates for key positions, reflecting worker shortages throughout the region in communities of all sizes.
During the Huntington Selectboard meeting on Jan. 4, three candidates for a full-time highway worker were interviewed. The candidates were Jonah Desjarlais of Huntington, Jesse Sobczyk of Southwick, and David Przybyla of Huntington, who currently works part-time for the department.
Desjarlais currently works for the Easthampton Sewer Department and said he would like to work for the town of Huntington, where he has lived all his life, and where he plans to buy land and settle.
Sobczyk, who works in Springfield for a paving company and is a diesel mechanic, said he is interested in working for a municipality for the state retirement and health insurance benefits that are offered.
Przybyla currently works part-time for the Highway Department and formerly served Huntington as a police officer for 10 years.
All three candidates asked what the pay would be. Selectboard members said they are currently reviewing the pay scale, which would be based on experience. Selectboard members also said they are interested in finding someone who will stay in the position long-term. They said they would announce their selection once a candidate has accepted the position.
The town of Chester is still seeking a highway superintendent, after a recent search did not result in a hire. Town Administrator Donald Humason Jr. said the new posting will go up in the spring. He said the town currently has three highway laborers.
Chester is also currently seeking a part-time administrative assistant for the Highway Department, a four-hour-a-week, non-benefited position paying up to $18 per hour, based on experience. Candidates may email townadministrator@townofchester.net for more information, or call 354-7760.
Blandford has an opening for a part-time fire chief, a 19.5-hour position to oversee the operation of the all-volunteer department. Candidates must have three to five years’ experience, with a minimum of two years in supervisory position, in fire-EMS service. Compensation is listed as $23 to $25 an hour.
Blandford is also seeking candidates to fill a part-time assistant treasurer-collector position that would be responsible for administrative and supervisory work involving the receipt and the collection of all money due to the town. Candidates must have a minimum of one to three years’ experience in municipal finance and a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting. The compensation range for this 19.5-hour-a-week position is $23 to $24 an hour. The right candidate will have the opportunity for promotion to the position of treasurer-collector within six months, with a salary range of $26 to $35 an hour.
Anyone with questions regarding either opportunity may contact Town Administrator Christopher Dunne at 848-4279, ext. 502, or administrator@townofblandford.com.
Both Chester and Blandford are seeking community liaisons for a Municipal Vulnerability Planning action grant for the dirt road improvement project the towns are undertaking along with Middlefield. The grant will provide a stipend of $5,000 to the community liaison in each town, whose main role will be to serve as project envoys to the community and generate community involvement in town-wide listening sessions. Inquiries for the positions may go to the town administrators in Blandford and Chester.