In any corporation, people get used to a culture. Things are done a certain way, and the status quo is not challenged. The Town of Old Saybrook is a corporation and I have become very aware of the culture. However, the way we have conducted our business in the past may not be the best way as we move forward. Change, so long as it is not for its own sake, can lead to improvements.

For the last two years, I have been working toward a culture change in Town Hall. Let me share with you what that entails. First: We will only hire the best. When a position in town needs to be filled, we should only fill it with the most qualified person. I have had the opportunity to fill four key positions in the last two years. Those positions have been advertised, résumés collected, and interviews conducted (usually of only the top seven or eight candidates). From that, the list gets narrowed to two persons and a selection is made. The interview process is conducted by a selected panel of three to five persons with a standard group of questions. Finance director, information technology, WPCA administrator and economic development director are the positions that have been filled. We have had great success with this process and I am insisting that it continue across every department in Town Hall.

While we will review and interview our internal candidates, as we are required to do, they will be required to go through the process. No more should we hand off important leadership positions, or any position that may be held for the next 20 years, to the person we like the most. The position should go to the person who will benefit the Town of Old Saybrook's residents and give us the best value for the salary we pay. I will insist that all future vacant positions be filled with the best and the brightest. Knowing someone is not a qualification. By doing this, we make town government better, which over the long term will make our town a better place to live.

Hand in hand with this, the town will soon have it first Employee Handbook. In it, there will be basic rules of the road that most any business would be expected to follow. That has not always been the case in Old Saybrook. Change can be good.

Corrections/Additions

Not too long ago I wrote about how fortunate we were to have so many great volunteers in town willing to do work that makes our town look so good. I suppose it is inevitable that I would have left some group of persons out?and I did. Even worse, it was a group of Eagle Scouts! I received a very nice email from Marylee Puttre pointing out the error of my ways. A few more scouts from Troop 51 who deserve our many thanks: Daniel Puttre who worked for three months refurbishing and staining/painting the ramps, steps, and decking at OSY&FS; Enrico Patterini, who did beautiful work for the Hart House; and Patrick Callahan, who worked on the Civil War Memorial in the cemetery. It takes an extraordinarily talented group of parents and scouts to get all this done. Thanks!