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Coventry manager proposes new purchasing/grants position; council signals conditional support pending budget
Summary
Town Manager Perillo proposed creating a combined purchasing agent/grants manager position (anticipated total cost about $100,000). Council members generally supported the idea but raised funding concerns; no formal creation or hiring occurred at the meeting.
Coventry —s The Town Manager told the council on Jan. 14 that he has advertised a new dual-role position to serve as purchasing agent and grants manager and has received about 26 applications. The manager said the position would relieve workload from the finance office and would be budgeted at roughly $75,000 in salary plus benefits, bringing the full cost to approximately $100,000 a year.
The manager described the position—s responsibilities and urgency: "We probably have about 9 to $10,000,000 in grant management going on right now between the annex, the high school sewer project, the police department, and planning," he said, noting the grant work requires ongoing reporting. He added that the current contractor (a former finance director working one day a week at $50 per hour) supplements staff but that long-term needs point to a permanent hire.
Council members generally expressed support for professionalizing procurement and grant management but pressed for clarity on funding. The manager said the position is currently unfunded and would need to be included in the July 1 budget; he asked whether the council would be open to creating and funding the position during the fiscal year if money can be found. Several council members said they would support the hire if the finance department can identify a funding source and commit to maintaining the position in the next fiscal budget.
No formal vote was taken. The manager said he would present a job description, budget impact analysis and proposed funding sources at a future meeting and suggested the council could approve creation and short-term funding if funds are available in the current budget.
What—s next: Town staff will return with a job description and recommendation for where to find funds if the council wishes to create and authorize the position before the July 1 budget cycle.
