TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Jodi Ross
The year 2004 began with a Special Town Meeting vote in January creating the position of Town Administrator. It was with great pleasure that I accepted the offer to become Bolton’s first Town Administrator, and I would like to thank the members of the search committee, the Board of Selectmen, and the residents of Bolton for supporting this decision and allowing me the honor of serving you.
Many of the challenges I faced during the past year included projects such as implementing Future Management Systems recommendations for improving customer service, fostering more effective communications among town departments and town officials, participating in the implementation of employee goal setting and performance reviews, and evaluating and recommending improvements to the many processes and procedures of the town.
Bolton has a unique culture with a population who are especially protective of their town. For this reason, Bolton continues to be a very special place to live, thus we are faced with the threat of unprecedented growth. Managing this growth will be the highest priority in the coming years. Assisting the Selectmen, and the community, with protecting this very special town will continue to make this position challenging, educational, and gratifying.
A Town Administrator does not work in a vacuum, but relies on the efforts, diligence and cooperation of the town staff and volunteers to help make goals achievable. Some of the accomplishments we have achieved together during the past year include:
· Increased the hours the Town Hall is open to the public, from 16 to 25 ½.
· Hired a new Principal Assessor, Tony Bryan, with several years of Assessor experience.
· Hired a part time Town Accountant, Julie Costello, who is helping to streamline and improve our accounting procedures.
· Hired Bolton’s first Town Planner, Nat Tipton, who is coordinating the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals activities, and is participating in the Master Plan process.
· Improved communication between the town departments, boards and committees, and residents.
· Developed a town wide employee goal setting and performance evaluation procedure.
· Developed a process to evaluate and seek competitive quotes for contracted town services.
· Created a Financial Team that meets quarterly to examine and make recommendations to improve the town’s financial condition.
· Implemented quarterly tax billing which will significantly improve the town’s management of its fiscal resources.
Future goals include assisting with the implementation of the Selectmen priorities, including renovating the Emerson school, building a new Police station, possible expansion of the Library, and looking at both short and long-term office space needs of the Town Hall. Selling the Moen property will help us by offsetting the corresponding debt, thus freeing up cash for other purposes. We also intend to continue to improve the customer service we offer to the public. In addition, my personal goals include continuing to help establish and maintain positive, productive working relationships among town employees, board and committee members, and most importantly, the residents of the town.
None of these objectives could have been, nor may in the future be accomplished without the tireless efforts of the Board of Selectmen, town employees and numerous volunteers who serve our town. I would like to personally thank these individuals for helping to make Bolton a rewarding town to work in, and, for those fortunate enough, a charming, delightful community in which to live.
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