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Braintree introduces new facilities and economic development directors
Summary
Mayor Joyce introduced Jacqueline Gold as the town’s new director of facilities and Katherine Rollins as economic development director. Rollins highlighted Braintree’s transit access and municipal utility rates as competitive advantages and said she will prioritize business outreach and clearer permitting guidance.
Mayor Joyce introduced two new hires at the Town of Braintree’s March 3 council meeting, presenting Jacqueline Gold as the town’s new director of facilities and Katherine Rollins as the new economic development director.
Jacqueline Gold, who said she most recently worked in facilities and procurement for a national fitness brand and earlier at a community college, told the council she expects to apply phased renovation approaches that keep buildings in use while work proceeds. "When we were dealing especially at the community college... we would go four by floor by floor," Gold said, describing strategies she has used to keep operations running during construction.
Katherine Rollins, who said she previously worked for the city of Everett and as director for ULI Boston New England, described several local strengths she sees for Braintree, including the town’s location between Boston and Cape Cod, multiple transit connections, and a municipal utility that she said offers lower electric rates than investor-owned utilities. "The connectivity is absolutely a selling point," Rollins said, and she noted the potential of transit-oriented development and state programs tied to MBTA communities.
Rollins said her immediate priorities include outreach to local businesses, clarifying municipal processes for permitting and expansion, and forming partnerships to help projects move forward. "I think we'll soon be coming out with some communications that will be helpful to businesses... to demystify the process of either starting a business or expanding a business or developing here in town," she said.
Council members welcomed both hires and urged focus on schools and neighborhood commercial centers. Several councilors asked Rollins about zoning and short-term opportunities to boost activity in specific business districts; she said she looks forward to meeting with residents and businesses to identify near-term actions.
The council did not take formal action on personnel matters at the meeting beyond the introductions. The next steps for the economic development office will include outreach meetings and communications Rollins described as forthcoming.
