Town funds facilities manager amid plan to shift maintenance out of capital requests

Gary explained the building-maintenance budget and proposed funding a facilities manager at 75% for FY27 (the position is authorized but partly funded by shifting a maintainer-two vacancy in Public Works). He said the role would focus on asset management, five- and ten‑year capital planning, NFPA/fire inspection follow-up, contract oversight and verifying contractor work to reduce deferred capital spending and the need for small capital requests.

Members asked about the difference between titles in the packet (facilities coordinator vs. manager) and the qualifications sought; Gary said the role needs someone with building-systems knowledge, analytical skills for energy and asset data, and experience writing bid specifications and managing contractors. Commissioners stressed realistic expectations and the importance of coordinating with the Board of Education for joint facilities.

The board approved the building-maintenance budget and the facilities-manager funding as presented; Gary will notify the board if recruitment proves difficult and will return with follow-up on asset inventories and capital-prioritization work.

Separately, the building department (Mark, with Building Official Steve Cardell) sought a modest increase to pay for contractual personnel costs and a short-term assistant position to handle a near-term influx of commercial projects. Mark said the town expects substantial permit-driven investment (cited projects include Safe Futures, retail conversions and a large Electric Boat conversion at the Crystal Mall site) and that the requested staffing additions should handle the immediate workload.