SOUTHWICK – The Planning Board is moving ahead with hiring a new part-time town planner.
Board Chairman Douglas Moglin said he was pleased to receive a number of resumes from interested applicants.
“We’re going to schedule a meeting to go through the interview process,” Moglin said, adding he plans for the interviews to be done in open session.
Moglin believes the first round of interviews will be done quickly and the board will narrow the group to a few finalists this month.
The board received nearly 10 resumes for the 18-hour per week position, which became open when former planner Marcus Phelps retired this summer.
“We’re looking for someone with planning experience to help us with planning functions and be the liaison between the Planning Board and other departments, as well as the public,” said Moglin.
Working with the public is a big part of the job.
“I would like someone who is consumer-friendly,” Moglin said, acknowledging that the job could be challenging at times in 18 hours.
“This person has to work efficiently,” he said. “Because everyone on the board has a day job, this person is our town hall presence.”
The planner must also work with regional planning agencies and will be tasked with working on the town’s master plan over the next two years.
Moglin said the board will hire someone “as expediently as possible.”
