ATHOL — The town’s Board of Selectmen voted unanimously this week to ratify a fiscal year 2018 work plan that its developer, Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski, called an ambitious way to improve internal financial and personnel policies.
According to Suhoski, internal goals include potential updates to the 2014 fiscal policy, including an assessment of the long-term funding for capital improvements, and completing an updated personnel policy guidebook and “welcome kit” for new employees. External goals pertain to economic development to stabilize and expand the tax base and support improvements to the downtown district.
“I think the Board of Selectmen have embraced a plan that continues to find efficiencies within town government while also keeping an eye toward the town’s longer-term health,” Suhoski said.
The selectmen also asked Suhoski to hold more all-staff meetings to ensure departments are aligned with the overall policy direction from the chief elected officials.
According to Suhoski, efforts to stabilize residential neighborhoods include continued vigorous code enforcement, pursuing rehabilitation or demolition grants for nuisance properties and transitioning the three downtown elementary schools to the private sector.