Town manager proposes assistant TM to centralize planning, code enforcement and economic development

Town Manager Sarah told the council she intends to ‘‘reimagine’’ how code enforcement, planning and Economic & Community Development (ECD) operate by advertising immediately for an assistant town manager who would provide executive oversight of those departments and drive customer-service improvements.

Sarah said the positions in question are currently funded and the primary further request would be a phased ECD strategy study she would bring later that may use up to $40,000 in TIF funds. ‘‘This proposal represents an immediate and deliberate shift away from status quo operations and business as usual,’’ she said, adding that the assistant town manager would focus on permit turnaround times, delivery of council‑directed ECD strategies and customer service outcomes.

Councilors asked about timing and costs. Sarah replied she hopes to begin recruitment immediately and expected the search to take several months; she said current positions are funded and the unfunded item likely to return for council consideration would be the ECD study, ‘‘I do not expect that to exceed $40,000 using TIF funds,’’ she said. Councilors urged that the study include measurable deadlines and that staff provide regular updates.

Several councilors welcomed the customer-service focus. One said the proposal’s emphasis on ‘‘outcomes’’ — not just inputs — was a positive shift and urged staff to provide measurable statistics. Another councilor cautioned the town should be ready to implement recommendations without promising a fixed number of new businesses, saying the goal was to ‘‘be ready to be the best partner’’ when the market turns.

Sarah said if the pilot year shows results she would return to ask for a director of planning and development to make the arrangement permanent; if it does not show results, the town would retain flexibility to revert or revise the structure. She also said the assistant town manager role is intended to provide executive‑level HR and operational support to her office.