MONTAGUE — The weight on the Selectboard’s shoulders is now a bit lighter with the addition of Administrative Assistant Shayna Reardon, who began her new job last Monday.
Town Administrator Steve Ellis touted the Montague native as “the right candidate” from a pool of “three very solid candidates” considered during the application phase. The Selectboard swiftly appointed Reardon during their meeting on Oct. 24 after being briefed. Once settled in, Reardon will assist the Selectboard with clerical and secretarial functions, including maintenance of documents, communications, research and data entry, according to the town’s advertisement for the position.
Reardon, who currently works as a server at Watershed Restaurant, wrote in her job application that her 17 years working in customer service would translate “greatly” to the role of an administrative assistant.
“I have great time management, interpersonal, organizational and computer skills,” she continued. “I am quick to learn and adapt, and strive to create an efficient working environment.”
She spent her first day training closely with Bogusz, who previously praised Reardon as “very easy going and … a good fit for the office.” Thus far, though, certain specifics of her role that Reardon will need to adapt to remain unclear, the new hire said.
“I’m taking this one step at a time,” she stressed. “I truly have no idea where this is going to go.”
This element of the unknown excites Reardon, who cited an eagerness to “go with the flow” as she gets established in her new role. She hopes her work as an administrative assistant eventually can serve as a “stepping stone to future opportunities” outside of the food industry she’s worked in for 14 years.
“I am very open minded to learning more, to seeking experience and seeing where all of it takes me,” Reardon said.
Reardon’s hiring follows an annual Town Meeting vote that approved funding for the part-time position in tandem with a full-time Assistant Town Administrator position. The positions were budgeted at a combined $118,781 budget increase for Fiscal Year 2023. Reardon will work 20 hours per week at a rate of $18.81 per hour.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.