Hanson Approves New IT Director with $149,000 Salary

Town prepares for budget cuts after failed override vote while addressing water emergency communication issues

HANSON - May 20 - The Hanson Select Board has approved the hiring of a new IT Director who will start on June 2 with a starting salary of $149,000. The board ratified the contract during their May 20 meeting, with Town Administrator Lisa Green highlighting the importance of this addition to address long-standing technology projects.

"We can't wait to get some of these IT projects up and running that have been stagnant for a long time," Green tells the board, noting that the town website overhaul is "almost top of the list" of priorities.

The three-year contract includes annual 2.5% salary increases, bringing compensation to $152,725 in the second year and $156,543.13 in the third year. Green confirms this salary is "comparable to what IT directors are being paid" and matches what the candidate currently earns.

The new director will receive 25 vacation days annually, allocated in two installments of 12.5 days each on January 1 and July 1. The board's approval is contingent upon completion of background checks, which Green reports are nearly complete with "nothing to report."

Office space for the new director remains a concern, with Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett expressing reservations about the current plan to place the position in a small shared space.

"I really don't want somebody starting and already feeling like they are behind the eight ball because they are being put in a closet, the equivalent of a closet," FitzGerald-Kemmett says.

Green acknowledges the space limitations and mentions they are exploring alternatives, including potentially modifying the kitchen office area, which she notes is "a large area that is not regularly used" and conveniently located near the IT closet.

Budget Cuts Planned Following Failed Override

Town officials are working to implement budget cuts by July 1 following the failure of a recent override vote. Green reports she held a department head meeting to discuss the necessary reductions.

"We went over the amounts that the departments need to look at. And we are going to be having further discussions," Green says. "Hopefully we are going to have everything in place by July 1."

The process will require impact bargaining with unions for positions affected by the cuts. Green notes that last year, it took "a few months for us to finally come to agreement with the union and start the reduction," but the goal is to have everything ready for the start of the fiscal year.

FitzGerald-Kemmett provided an update on the town's response to a recent boil water order that affected 105 Hanson households served by the Abington Rockland Joint Water Works. The situation revealed communication gaps when E. coli was detected in water samples on May 14.

"It was a bit of a firestorm," FitzGerald-Kemmett says, explaining that news reports incorrectly suggested the entire town was affected, causing unnecessary panic among residents.

The town used its Code Red alert system to notify residents, but this only reached those who had previously registered for the service. FitzGerald-Kemmett notes that Abington Rockland Joint Water Works uses a separate alert system run by the Town of Rockland, which affected residents would need to sign up for separately.

"A lot of lessons learned there," FitzGerald-Kemmett says, adding that Fire Chief O'Brien, as emergency response coordinator, should have been more centrally involved in the response. She reports that officials will be "forensically going through what could we do, what could we have done better."

The water ban was lifted after tests showed no contamination, but FitzGerald-Kemmett emphasizes the need for improved emergency communication systems and encourages residents to sign up for the Code Red Alert system through the Plymouth County Sheriff's website.

Other Meeting Highlights:

- The board reorganized following the town election, with FitzGerald-Kemmett elected as chair

- A new executive assistant will start on June 3

- The board welcomed Jessica Franceschini as the new town clerk

- The town's insurance renewal is expected to increase by only 1.5% from last year, with $3,223 in credits earned through employee safety training participation

- The Economic Development Committee is exploring ways to generate revenue from underutilized town properties, including the Plymouth County Hospital building and Camp Kiwanee

- The board approved a resolution supporting a $70,000 Site Readiness Grant for 212 Industrial Boulevard

- Town Hall will be closed on May 26 for Memorial Day

"Collectively, yes, we could have done better, and we will do better going forward," FitzGerald-Kemmett says regarding the water emergency response, reflecting the board's commitment to improving town operations across all departments.

Full meeting available via WHCA.