GREENFIELD — The town took its latest step to bring municipal internet to Greenfield Wednesday night when Town Council approved a two-year employment contract for an interim municipal internet manager.
Daniel Kelley was appointed by Mayor William Martin this summer as acting general manager of Greenfield Community Energy and Technology — the town-owned service that will eventually provide low-cost internet, telephone and possibly television services to all residents and businesses. During its monthly meeting Wednesday, the council approved a two-year employment contract for Kelley with an annual salary of $120,000. It also approved special legislation that will allow the town to form its own Municipal Light Commission, which will oversee the internet service and eventually conduct a search process for a new manager.
The council was set to vote last month on a five-year, $150,000-per-year contract for Kelley, which Martin originally proposed, but the vote was tabled after legal confusion about whether the council had the authority to set the manager’s term and salary, or whether it had to vote the contract up or down.
Some councilors expressed concern that there was no public search for candidates for the job. Last month, Martin defended Kelley’s appointment by saying he’s been working with Kelley for the past 3½ years and pointed to his wealth of experience in the field. Kelley, he said, had initial input into the design for the entire townwide network, so it makes sense for him to see the project through.
Council Vice President Isaac Mass urged the mayor Wednesday to conduct an open process in the future, in which the position is advertised and the town seeks the most qualified candidate for the job by soliciting applications from a range of people, including women and minorities.
“I think the process could be a lot better than it has been,” Mass said.
Precinct 8 Councilor Ashli Stempel agreed, saying she was uncomfortable with the hiring process.
“I’m not saying (Kelley) is not the most qualified, but you don’t know who else is out there and who would be willing to move to our town to start a program like this,” she said.
Although the contract passed unanimously, some said they hoped for an even lower salary. Stempel urged the council to amend the contract further, saying there has to be some sort of incentive to perform. Salaries for IT startup managers typically start around $90,000, she said, and increase from there.
Mass agreed, but said there will be plenty of opportunity for the new Municipal Light Commission to build incentives into its hiring process. Kelley’s limited term, he added, will allow the board to get settled in and eventually conduct a new search.
The five-person commission will consist of residents who do not hold any other public office.
“This will create a group that really does have not only oversight (and) authority, (but) they will ideally be people who have industry expertise and will really be able to concentrate on what is poised to be the biggest economic engine this community has ever had,” Mass said, adding the service is projected to make $5 million in net revenue after its third year.
At-Large Councilor Mark Maloni encouraged his fellow councilors to be diligent as appointments to the board come forward from the mayor.
“I’m really kind of questioning who are these five people who are going to be capable of doing this work,” he said.
However, Council President Brickett Allis said positions on the commission can be paid positions within GCET, which will make it easier to find people with expertise.
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at: aluttrell@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @AvivaLuttrell