Politics & Government

Selectmen Grade Town Administrator Balukonis

Selectmen disagree on whether the results should be deemed "needs improvement" or "low satisfactory."

The Board of Selectmen presented its annual review of Town Administrator Greg Balukonis on Monday night.

Here are the composite scores from the selectmen:

  • Relationship with the board: 28.6 out of 50.
  • Fiscal management: 23.1 out of 40.
  • Relations with the community and public relations: 18.6 out of 40.
  • Personnel administration: 23.85 out of 50.
  • Professional skills and ability: 26.2 out of 50.

 

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While Selectmen Chairman Sean Delaney classified Balukonis’ scores in each category as “needs improvement,” Selectman Stephen O’Leary retorted that the grades are more in the “low satisfactory” range.

Delaney said there are a number of areas in which Balukonis needs to improve upon:

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  • Participate in the high school/middle school building project.
  • Take charge and be more engaging at board meetings.
  • Get more creative in budgeting and look for ways to reduce costs.
  • Take constructive criticism better from the board.
  • Make regular contact with the state legislation delegation.
  • Be more vested in the community.
  • Complete a number of unfinished projects, including the Chestnut/New Street truck exclusion issue.
  • Improve employee morale.

 

Balukonis met with Delaney and Selectmen Robert Mauceri before the meeting to discuss the review. The town administrator said he read through the review and the members' comments.

“I understand the task at hand,” said Balukonis, who has served as North Reading town administrator for eight years.

Selectman Michael Prisco said he was “taken aback” by some of Balukonis’ responses to the criticism in the review. One point that miffed Prisco is Balukonis saying no one asked him to be more involved in the school building project. 

“It’s leadership and we shouldn’t have to ask for it,” Prisco said in response.

Prisco added that he went over Balukonis’ past three reviews and said his scores have dropped 25 percent over that time.

“I’m not confident that you actually take any regard to our comments and our criticism,” said Prisco.

Another issue was a recent state audit of the North Reading Veterans Affairs Department that reportedly involved not providing full services to veterans because of budget cuts.

“You owe them an apology and our veterans agent an apology,” said Prisco to Balukonis.

Prisco also pointed to employee morale at Town Hall and an us vs. them atmosphere between Town Hall and the Board of Selectmen, which Prisco said is Balukonis’ fault.

O’Leary, however, said Balukonis is doing a fine job – “despite fiscal constraints and personalities on the board.” He blamed Balukonis’ reduced rating over the past three years partly on new members coming on the board.

O’Leary also said the employee morale issue can be attributed to the Board of Selectmen and the “tendency to cross the line.” O’Leary said the selectmen need to be more respectful of town employees and need to foster communication with employees through Balukonis.

“It’s something that’s our fault. It’s not his fault,” O’Leary said.  “The morale issue – we need to address.”

Delaney, however, said that he hears from Town Hall employees who are “fearful” of Balukonis and speaking up. The chairman added that it’s uncomfortable to work at Town Hall and he would like to look into the root causes of that.

Selectman Robert Mauceri agreed with O’Leary that the selectmen “do not present ourselves in the best light on occasion.” He’s not sure of the cause of the morale issue, but the town should hire an independent agent to look into the problem.

“I think the review of Mr. Balukonis was somewhat harsh in some areas and a little unfair,” he said, adding that there are some areas that Balukonis could improve upon. 


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