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| By Levon Kinney Staff Intern WILBRAHAM The Board of Selectmen interviewed two candidates for the position of facilities supervisor. The job would include supervising the 24 public buildings in town, instructing the custodial positions to perform maintenance, and working with Lance Trevallion, the towns building inspector. Steve Harris was the first candidate to be interviewed by the Selectmen at the Dec. 11 meeting. "Can you give us a highlight of your experience?" Chairman David Barry asked. "I have twenty-three years experience in ground labor construction with a property maintenance company," replied Harris. "Harrisina was a company started by my father and I in Lake George, NY, when he retired I became president. We maintained both commercial and private properties including Home Depot and about twenty-five Cumberland Farms locations." "How would you deal with dissatisfied members of the community?" Selectman James Thompson asked. "I would like to diffuse the situation," Harris said. "Work with them to understand the problems and how we can fix them." Barry asked what were Harris' strongest and weakest assets. "My strongest asset would be that I am a people person and I like to work with the public. My weakest would have to be that I am not familiar with the area," Harris said. The next candidate interviewed was Ronald Raucher who graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School in 1973. The Selectmen asked him the same questions he asked Harris. "I was employed by Anderson Builders in East Longmeadow for a number of years," Raucher replied. "Recently I have been a supervisor of construction for Mass Mutual." "Could you give us an estimate of the number of employees you supervise on a given day?" Thompson asked. "At the most, around six, unless I am dealing with a subcontractor," Raucher said. After Raucher's interview the Board adjourned into executive session for several minutes to deliberate which candidate will be picked. When the meeting was called back into session Barry said that the decision would be announced at the next meeting on Dec. 18. Zig Pabich was interviewed for the Financial Planning Committee. "Can you tell us about your background?" Barry asked. "Well, I have lived in Wilbraham for about thirty years. I started working for Friendly's after graduating from Trinity College. Eventually I moved through the ranks and eighteen years ago my partner and I started operating Jim Dandy restaurants." The Board then appointed Pabich to the position. During the open forum Robert Page of the Concerned Citizens of Wilbraham asked, "I understand the town maintains private roads and ways, and Ed Miga said this amounts to about eight percent of his salary, can you explain this?" "Our policy has been to keep the road accessible for emergency vehicles," Barry replied. "If there are one or more houses on a road than the town maintains the road including plowing." "This isn't just a town problem," Selectman Pat Brady stated. "It is faced throughout the Commonwealth." |