Business

Town of Southwick announces new Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds

SOUTHWICK – The Select Board meeting on Monday July 11 included a session in which interviews took place. That same night, a decision was made.

It was announced that a vacancy would be filled for the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the Town of Southwick.

Robert Johnson, a resident of Southwick, has been hired as the new supervisor, taking over for John Westcott, who previously held the position. Westcott will currently continue to be a part of the department before he steps down, as he is in progress with an old project.

The Southwick Fire Department is another building that Johnson will oversee. (Westfield News File Photo)

The Southwick Fire Department is another building that Johnson will oversee. (Westfield News File Photo)

As the decision was made on July 11 that Johnson would become the new supervisor, he is expected to officially start working on July 25. Johnson will get his foot in the door working half-days before he starts his first week of full-time work beginning on Aug. 1.

Johnson has an extensive background ranging from experience right in the Southwick community as well as positions outside the town.

Having been a member of the Planning Board, Board of Water Commissioners, and Board of Assessors, Johnson is familiar with the role of town government in Southwick.

“It helps with working with the people in the town hall,” said Johnson. “It helps with understanding the systems.”

On July 19, Johnson resigned from the Board of Accessors in order to now become a town employee.

Being in the landscaping business since 1989, Johnson has been able to deal with managing properties besides just doing the physical aspect of landscaping.

“I was more of a property manager, I think than anything,” said Johnson. “We dealt with a lot of internal stuff, versus just outside work.”

The Department of Public Works is an important department in town. (Westfield News File Photo)

The Department of Public Works is an important department in town. (Westfield News File Photo)

The background experience outside Southwick extends to Johnson’s 21 years of military service with the National Guard.

Johnson’s strong background will allow him to be more familiar with his responsibilities as the building supervisor for the town.

The Town Hall, Department of Public Works, Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Town Beaches and the Public library are important buildings and properties in Southwick that Johnson will be responsible for supervising and maintaining. He will also be in charge of looking after the custodians in all buildings owned by the town.

Johnson was able to refer back to his time with town government as a way to bring success with the several areas in the community.

“Being involved as an elected official helps to build those bonds with the other departments,” said Johnson.

Looking after the old town library as well as the current library and animal control are other departments that Johnson will be responsible for.

With supervising the many departments in town, also come the projects that will be developing along the way. Whether they are new or continuing, Johnson will be tasked with overseeing the projects that pertain to him.

Any new projects that will be created, Johnson will have the duty of bringing the new projects to the Select Board for discussion. After a project is finished, Johnson said he is already focused on monitoring and testing the project.

As Johnson will rather shortly be starting his work as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, the opportunity was one he could not pass up.

“It’s almost exactly what I’ve been doing,” said Johnson. “It was in a good place at the right time for me.”

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