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Selectmen recommend $50,000 warrant to establish full‑time communications specialist at town hall
Summary
The board voted to recommend Article P‑25‑19, a $50,000 initial appropriation to create a communications specialist position; town manager described staffing needs and estimated costs.
The Plaistow Board of Selectmen on Jan. 13 voted to recommend a warrant article to establish a full‑time communications specialist at town hall and to place an initial $50,000 appropriation on the town warrant.
Town Manager Greg said the position would handle website updates, social media, public notifications, and right‑to‑know coordination across departments and boards. "This sum represents the cost of wages and associated roll up costs such as taxes, insurance, and retirement," Greg said when the warrant text was read. He and other staff said $50,000 is intended to cover roughly six to seven months of salary and benefits if hiring proceeds in the spring; the full annual cost was estimated in the meeting at about $100,000.
Selectmen discussed whether the role could be part time or filled temporarily through interns or cross‑training. Greg said the town is "thin staffed" and that a full‑time hire would provide redundancy and relieve pressure during vacations and retirements. He added that hiring and onboarding timelines mean a new hire would realistically start around June if the warrant is approved and the position posted.
Selectman Jay moved to recommend Article P‑25‑19; the motion was seconded and the board carried the recommendation by voice vote (board announced 4‑0 in favor).
Why it matters: The role is intended to centralize communications tasks that staff and volunteers currently share and to ensure timely publication of meeting notices, public hearings, and right‑to‑know responses. If voters approve the warrant at the deliberative session and in the town vote, the full‑year cost will be included in next year’s budget; town staff said that would be approximately $100,000 in salary and benefits.
What remains unresolved: Final job description, posting, and salary band will be prepared by town staff and the human resources process if voters approve the article; the board directed staff to include the full‑year cost in the next budget cycle if the article is approved.
