IPSWICH – On his first day as the new town manager, Brendan Sweeney met last week with the SelectBoard to discuss theirs and his priorities for the first several months that included solidifying the town’s finances, making progress on several construction projects, building employee morale and his learning about the important shellfish industry.
In a highly cordial exchange, the town leaders ironed out how they plan to work and communicate together. Sweeney, who grew up in Ipswich before becoming a Beverly City council-member and Boxford’s deputy town administrator, promised to communicate often and through various platforms with the SelectBoard.
“We want you to be candid. We want the unfiltered version,” Chair Michael Doughtery said.
In a discussion about whether Sweeney would welcome staff members talking directly to SelectBoard members, he said he would not block any communication between employees and the board, but would only ask that he be kept informed that the conversations were happening.
Top priorities the board outlined were filling three staff leader positions – the finance director, the purchasing director and the technology director. Vice Chair Carl Nylen called the town’s technology systems “poor.”
Other priorities included the new automated trash pick-up program, the public safety building, a new charter for the Electric Light Department, redevelopment of EBSCO along with downtown parking, and the future of shellfish industry.
SelectBoard members took turns introducing themselves to the new manager, and he to them. He had spent much of the first day meeting department heads and said he would continue meeting the staff during the rest of last week.
Sweeney, who served as finance director for Boxford, praised Ipswich as a well-run town. In the last 35 years, several SelectBoard members noted, the town has had to adopt an override only once and the schools three times.
The new manager said his priorities are to stabilize the operating budget in light of rising costs across the board, make progress with several capital projects, including the public safety building and a new elementary school. He also noted that he wanted to spend time building a stronger morale among the staff.
