SOUTHAMPTON — With a new town administrator, Southampton is sure to see changes.
Edward Gibson started the job on Jan. 8. Over his first month, he’s been getting to know the community and the demands in town, taking tours of the fire and police stations and William E. Norris School, as well as meeting with department heads.
“It’s a very friendly community,” he said.
One of the biggest changes is the town administrator’s role, which has more authority than it in the past.
Select Board Chairman Charlie Kaniecki said the town is making steps to implement some recommendations made by consultant Bernard Lynch, who presented an evaluation of the town’s governmental structure in November 2016.
Lynch found that the town’s government was outdated, fragmented and lacks accountability.
“A common theme that ran through almost every interview that was conducted as part of this project was the absence of ‘someone in charge’ of the day-to-day management of the municipal organization of Southampton,” Lynch wrote in the report.
The new job description for the town administrator seeks to address this concern. The role designates the administrator as the chief administrative officer, chief procurement officer and personnel director. Many of those duties were fragmented among town officials prior to Gibson’s arrival, Kaniecki said.
Gibson is responsible for proper operation of all town affairs on a day-to-day basis, empowered to sign all warrants, and responsible for overseeing all insurance, which includes health, property and liability, according to the job description.
He oversees and approves all purchases of goods and services for town, and negotiates all collective bargaining agreements, according to the job description.
Gibson appoints all department heads and is responsible for efficient administration of all departments and employees under the jurisdiction of the Select Board, the description states.
Before, department heads such as the police and fire chiefs reported directly to the Select Board, Kaniecki said.
Over his first couple months, Gibson is jumping right into budget season.
The Norris School faced a tight budget for fiscal 2018 and voters shot down a $150,000 override — money, school officials said, that was needed for necessary supplies and curriculum materials.
If another override is proposed, Gibson said there needs to be a clear plan about how that money will be spent, and it may be more likely to pass.
He said taxpayers “should know what they’re paying for.”
Funds can be tight when it comes to budgeting, and much of the burden falls on the residential taxpayers, Gibson said. He said he hopes to attract businesses to Southampton, adding that there are spaces open at the Red Rock plaza on Route 10.
A top priority for the town is constructing a new public safety complex, possibly combining the police and fire stations, but the town is still looking for a location for a new building.
“The two facilities are definitely cramped,” Gibson said.
Another priority is the Greenway Project, which plans to convert the rail bed into a bike trail, linking up with the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton. Recently, the engineering company Tighe & Bond completed an environmental review of the rail corridor.
Kaniecki said the new town administrator’s role allows more focus on projects like the Greenway.
“It’s streamlining, becoming more effective,” he said.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.