Millis select board ratifies personnel appointments, awards $100,000 permitting contract and accepts HR review

Millis Select Board on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, ratified multiple personnel appointments, approved inspection- and staffing-related policy changes, awarded a $100,000 contract for a commercial permitting guide and voted to accept a human-resources review that recommends creating a full-time HR director and supporting positions.

The meeting produced a string of unanimous votes that municipal officials say are intended to streamline town operations and prepare personnel and permitting systems for a projected increase in development activity. The board also approved several community items, including authorization for a temporary donation box for a student’s senior project and official recognition of Millis Beautification Day.

The human-resources review, prepared under a Community Compact grant and presented by Mary Icardi of the Collins Center, recommended separating HR from the assistant town administrator role and creating a full-time HR director for all town departments, an HR generalist at the school office, and a part‑time administrative assistant to support the town administrator’s office. “You have a $45,000,000 budget, and there is not 1 sole position…dedicated” to HR, Icardi said, arguing that benefits and payroll together are roughly 90 percent of the town’s budget and warrant dedicated staffing and controls.

Nicole Riley, chair of the town’s Economic Development Committee, briefed the board on a state earmark and a request-for-proposals process that produced two bids for a combined Business Improvement District (BID) blueprint and a commercial permitting guide. The board voted to award the contract to Schaeffer Land Use Consulting for an amount not to exceed $100,000; Riley said the state earmark…