TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – TOWN MANAGER POSITION PROFILE

Community Survey

The Town of Williamstown is beginning the recruitment and selection process for Williamstown's next Town Manager and has hired the firm, GovHR USA, to facilitate this recruitment process. The Town’s Select Board and its appointed Search Committee believe it is important to solicit feedback from the community and organization regarding the characteristics and traits the new Town Manager should possess as well as the opportunities and challenges they may be faced with as Williamstown's next Town Manager.

Since 1956 the Town Charter vests the Town Manager with the authority to manage town affairs. The Town Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the Town and reports to the Town Select Board which serves as the Board of Directors. The Charter gives to the Town Manager the authority to appoint many town officials (including the Chief of Police), to prepare budgets, to prepare warrants, to recommend policies, procedures, and ordinances, and to generally supervise the day-to-day management of the town. In addition, the duties of the Town Manager are to report to the Select Board all of the activities under the Manager's supervision as may be required by the Select Board, keep the Select Board fully advised as to the needs of the town, and to recommend to the Select Board the adoption of measures requiring action by it or by the town.

We value your input! Please provide responses to the following questions by August 9, 2021. All of your responses will remain confidential as they will be submitted directly to us.

How will this feedback be used? Your input will be combined with that of other stakeholders to develop a profile of the ideal candidate. That profile is used to market the position, and to convey to potential candidates a description of the community and the Town organization. It will also tell potential candidates about the background, skills and traits that will make for a successful candidate and be used by the Search Committee, and the Select Board, to determine a candidate’s suitability for the position.

If you would like to email us directly with additional feedback, you may send your comments and suggestions to this email address: WilliamstownTownManager@GovHRUSA.com

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* 1. Are you a resident of the Town of Williamstown, MA?

Resident

Non-resident

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* 2. What type of leader should Williamstown have as its next Town Manager? (Please rank your top 3 choice)

Inspirational – Cares about Williamstown and all of its residents.

Approachable – Out in the community and will listen.

Visionary – Sees the "Williamstown of the Future"

Courageous – Will be honest, even if it is difficult.

Empathetic – Seeks to understand how others feel, even if they have not had the same experience.

Communicative – Will regularly communicate with all parts of the community.

Trustworthy – Will do what was promised to do.

Collaborative – Wants to work with others to solve problems.

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* 3. Which three of the following management styles do you believe are essential for the Town Manager to successfully lead Williamstown? (Please rank your 3 top choices)

Strategic –Can plan and implement programs and other Town initiatives.

Decisive – Can make difficult decisions and stand by their decision.

Collaborative – Regularly seeks out other opinions and perspectives including those that differ from their own.

Coaching – Develops employees and help them succeed.

Innovative –Looks for new ways to solve problems.

Team Oriented – Will work with Town employees and residents on ways to solve issues facing the Town.

Transparent – Will make every effort to communicate the actions of the town to the appropriate constituencies.

Accountable – Respects and demonstrates that the Town Manager is answerable to the Select Board and the town’s various stakeholders.

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* 4. Which five of the following abilities and skills do you believe are most essential to perform the work of the Town Manager? (Please rank your top 5 choices).

Skill in conflict resolution

Skill in municipal finance and budgeting

Skill in building on and expanding the Town’s tax base

Ability to work with a Board that has differing opinions and perspectives

Ability and desire to really listen

Ability to work together and openly with members of the community

Ability to build diverse workforce teams within the organization

Ability to remain focused on the Town's long term goals

Ability to challenge the status quo

Ability to view issues through a racial equity lens

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* 5. Do you think it is necessary for the new Town Manager to have had experience in any of the following areas?

Municipal Management or other Local Government Management Experience

Academic Experience

Non-profit Sector Experience

Private Sector Experience

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What are the top three positive trends that you see happening in Williamstown that the next Town Manager will encounter upon starting his/her new role?

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* 7. What are the top three issues you would like the Town to address?

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* 8. What are the top three issues/challenges you think will face the new Town Manager?

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* 9. Do you have any other comments related to the recruitment for Williamstown’s next Town Manager?

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* 10. How would you describe yourself and/or your relationship to Williamstown?

Compiled results of this survey may be subject to public disclosure under Massachusetts Open Meeting Laws