ERVING — After a year of searching, the Selectboard voted to appoint Greenfield resident Glenn Johnson-Mussad to serve as town planner starting at the end of March.

During Monday’s Selectboard meeting, members voted unanimously to appoint Johnson-Mussad, who will start his new job on or before March 31, allowing time for him to notify his current employers and complete prior commitments. As town planner, a full-time position with benefits, Johnson-Mussad will earn $36.57 per hour.

Four candidates were considered for the position between December and January, and interviews took place in early January, according to Town Administrator Bryan Smith. Three of the four candidates interviewed with the town, and Johnson-Mussad was the only candidate to be unanimously recommended by the Town Planner Preliminary Screening Committee to move forward and meet with the Selectboard.

Johnson-Mussad, when interviewing with the Selectboard on Jan. 29, detailed his experience in project management, finances, municipal work and leadership. Johnson-Mussad currently serves as Wendell town coordinator and co-finance director. He had previously served in consultant, planner and management positions since 2009.

Outside of his work commitments, Johnson-Mussad has also served as chair of the Greenfield School Committee since 2024 and has been a member since 2019. He has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and social change from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Selectboard Chair Jacob Smith asked Johnson-Mussad how he would make progress on all of the town’s planning projects simultaneously.

“A lot of times there’s just a lot of things that are kind of on fire simultaneously,” Johnson-Mussad said in response. “You have to just jump in and figure out how to meet the next reporting deadline and so on, but you have to also be simultaneously keeping the big picture in mind, and trying to make progress on those bigger goals that might be more difficult.”

In a phone interview, Johnson-Mussad said he’ll spend the next few weeks before starting as town planner by taking some time to rest and spending a few days in Boston with state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, as part of a citizens summit. Once Johnson-Mussad starts, he said he’s looking forward to listening to constituents and learning more about Erving.

“I think what I’m most interested in is getting in, and listening and learning from the residents, the Planning Board and other stakeholders, and really helping Erving plan for the future in a way that balances both growth and preserving the town’s character,” Johnson-Mussad said.

One of the things that Johnson-Mussad said prompted him to apply for the position was Erving’s “blend of small-town warmth with forward-thinking approach to governance.” He feels this job is a great opportunity to learn more about town planning while putting his project management skills and municipal experience to good use.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Bryan Smith said the town has been seeking a new planner since January 2024 when former Town Planner Mariah Kurtz expressed her plans to step down. Smith has been serving as interim town planner since her departure.

When asked about what made Johnson-Mussad stand out as an ideal candidate, Smith said he was interested in the local government and nongovernmental work that Johnson-Mussad has done prior to this position.

“Obviously he’s got a long history of governmental and NGO roles,” Bryan Smith said, adding that his experience in Wendell “leans into how you’d support capital improvements and projects.” Additionally, he pointed to the fact that the town planner role requires public-facing work in community engagement, an area where he believes Johnson-Mussad will thrive.

Bryan Smith said the responsibilities that Johnson-Mussad will take on will be better understood as his start date nears, considering Smith has some projects in progress that he’ll see through to completion, and others that Johnson-Mussad can handle once he starts. The $15.6 million senior and multi-generational housing proposal on Care Drive and an effort to chart out a future for the long-vacant International Paper Mill property have been key topics for Erving in recent years.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.