Small group offers opinions on Town Manager search

Date: 3/27/2012

March 26, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — Residents were afforded their first public opportunity to weigh in on the search process for the new Town Manager at a public forum on March 20 at Longmeadow High School.

The Select Board has begun the process to find a replacement for current Town Manager Robin Crosbie, a move that became necessary when she announced her intentions to seek employment elsewhere in October 2011.

Selectman Marie Angelides explained that the purpose of the hearing was to gain a better understanding of where residents saw the town going in the next three to five years. She also said she saw the hiring of a new Town Manager as a three-step process.

"One, we have to sit down and decide what we're really looking for as a community what changes are we looking for? Where do we want our strengths to be built up? Where do we have concerns and what changes do we want to make in our town?" she said, "Once we're through that process we start to understand the qualifications that we're looking for. As a community, once we're focused and all in agreement on what we're looking for, we have to help that person to succeed."

Angelides told the crowd of approximately 15 people that the Select Board planned to host other opportunities for the community to voice its opinions and maintains an open door policy. The involvement of residents was key to finding the proper candidate, she said.

"If today you are unable to attend or if you think of something after tonight you really want to add, shoot an email, send a letter, pick up a phone and let us know because this is a process [in which] we are going to want to hear from people all the way up to when that person arrives and even after that person arrives," she said. "That way we can really make sure that that person is a good fit, that they can succeed and that they can do what we're looking for."

Angelides also explained the purpose of the search committee and reiterated that the Select Board will have the final say in the hiring of the Town Manager.

"We have put together a search committee and we are trying to bring as many different groups together on that committee," she said. "The search committee is not making the decision on who the Town Manager is. They are doing the first filtering process so that when they narrow down the applications to a certain group of people, that group will then be presented to the Select Board and the Select Board will make the final decision."

The search committee's roster is expected to be decided by April and it will begin reviewing applications in May.

"We want to have [the Town Manager] on board by June so that there can be a smooth transition," Angelides said.

Resident Michael Kirby spoke against the idea of hiring a new full-time town manager, instead stating the town should explore changing the charter to call for an elected official to take over Crosbie's duties.

"I think first off the fact that we have a Town Manager was one of the worst mistakes that the community has made in its history. The fact that you have somebody who is as responsible for the running of the town without any connection to it is a bad mistake," he said. "I think what would be best is if we had an interim town manager for perhaps a year so the town can examine the charter and see if changes can be made in this. I would much prefer an elected official, a mayor, for example. That person would be responsible to the residents of this community far greater than the town manager has been."

Kirby criticized the idea of someone with such control over the town's budget, as well as hiring and firing of town employees not living in town.

"If the town chooses to stay with the town manager, then there should be a residency requirement on the part of the town manager," he said.

John Bowen, chair of the Council on Aging Board of Directors, voiced his disagreement with Kirby's assessment.

"I've been in town for almost 50 years now and the town appears to be much better run right now thanks to the Select Board as well as the Town Manager," he said.

School Committee member John Fitzgerald also spoke in favor of continuing with the charter as it is currently written.

"I think it makes a lot of sense to hire a professional and pay them well," he said.

Fitzgerald said he felt the Town Manager should be someone the town can rely on to secure funding from revenue sources other than the residential tax base, such as federal funding and grants.

"We need someone who is going to actively work for the town of Longmeadow to acquire funds," he said. "We want someone who is going to be an advocate for the town, who will get the best shake for the town in terms of economic assistance."

Fitzgerald also said a familiarity with managing energy costs was an important aspect of the job.

"One of the fastest growing costs facing government today is the cost of energy. I think we're going to need to look seriously at the energy needs of municipal buildings and the schools," he said. "The Town Manager should be someone with knowledge about energy costs and hand-in-hand with that is a 'green' approach or an environmental structure conducive to energy saving and efficiency."

Fitzgerald concluded by stating that hiring a Town Manager with labor law experience could save the town money.

"I would like to see a person come in as town manager and be able to sit down and represent the town in collective bargaining with a little bit of assistance from specialists so we're not spending a tremendous amount of taxpayers' money on legal fees," he said.

Planning Board Chair Walter Gunn pointed out that in addition to her other duties as Town Manager, Crosbie acts as the Acting Planning Director for Longmeadow.

"We have to look in the search for someone who is going to have planning and zoning skills," he said. "Robin had incredible skills coming in from Hadley. When she saw that we had a litigious situation with the zoning problems in Longmeadow, Robin was smart enough to bring in an outside law firm that has cleared up 99 percent of all our issues."

Angelides agreed with Gunn, stating that Crosbie had also mentioned that the planning aspect of the job is not one associated with many other Town Manager positions.