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Former town administrator tells Stockbridge committee the administrator's role has expanded
Summary
A former town administrator who spoke to the committee said over time more operational authority has been delegated to the town administrator, increasing complexity and workload and changing the practical division between a paid manager and volunteer select-board members.
A member who previously served as town administrator told the committee that, historically, the select board made most decisions and administrators ran day-to-day operations, but that over time more authority has shifted to the full-time administrator. "There was more given to the town administrator a little bit here, a little bit there, and now to where we are today with a little even more," the former administrator said.
Committee members discussed whether the shift to a professional, full-time administrator (compared to volunteer board members spending an estimated 10 hours a week) argues for a larger, more policy-focused board or for clearer role definitions. One member said the committee should examine whether the balance between the select board and the town administrator is the underlying reason some residents favor expanding the board.
