New Mansfield Town Manager Declines Pay Raise

Town Manager Bill Ross raked in the praises from selectmen Wednesday night in his first yearly review, but said he didn't want the customary pay raise that usually follows, in light of the town's tenuous budget situation.

"I'm satisfied with where I am right now with this economic climate," Ross said, after accepting his overall 9.64 rating out of a possible 10.

He draws a base salary of $130,000, with another $10,000 added for his role as manager of the electric department.

Ross said he had been made to feel a true part of the Mansfield team in his 15 months on the job. He started in January 0f 2010, after the departure of embattled manager John D'Agostino and building inspector Nick Riccio's short stint as interim manager. Ross comes with years of experience as town administrator in a number of Midwest communities -- his last stint was in Michigan.

"This is a tremendous community," Ross said. "There is a lot of involvement, a lot of care for it. I am truly enjoying being part of that effort."

The review process was administered and collated by board chairman Kevin Moran, who wrote the summary and said the comments of individual board members will be available to the public along with the rest of the document, under the tenets of the latest Open Meeting Law regulations.

Ross received no lower than 9.4 in any category in the review, with a high perfect 10 in "legislative relations," -- the quality of his responsiveness to board members, as well as to the school committee and other town boards and committees.

Two board members who are in their first year as selectmen, Doug Annino and Olivier Kozlowski said they were grateful for the way Ross eased their transitions and made their jobs easier, keeping them informed at all times and prepared for meetings.

"I appreciate your ability to communicate," said Annino. "You're not afraid to call any one of us --it makes our job a lot easier."

"You have far exceeded our expectations," said board member George Dentino. "I really feel part of the team; you're the one who pulls us all together. I think I can tell everyone the town is in good hands."

Ross was graded in five other areas -- budget preparation (9.4); public relations and communications (9); managerial skills (9.7); direction and supervision (9); and personal and professional growth (9.8.) He was lauded for his calm, his organizational abilities, and his honest, straightforward approach to the people under his guidance and problems he is faced with.

Besides tackling the grim town and school budgets in an even grimmer winter, Ross has been challenged with the reorganization of some departments, smoothing the sometimes rocky relationship between the town and school "sides" who vie for funding every year, helping to keep the new three-town sewer district that Mansfield, Foxboro and Norton will share on track, presiding over union negotiations and a reduction in health care costs for the town, and planning for the redevelopment of the land around the train station.

New issues like prodding Mansfield towards a "green community" status with solar power and smart energy use, the continuing redevelopment of the downtown, and the ongoing population of the Cabot industrial park with biotech businesses will keep Ross, selectmen, and town departments creatively occupied for the indefinite future.

Ross's total review is available at the town manager's office.