James Kelley gestures as he speaks to the Acushnet Selectboard on 1/26/22 when they appointed him to be Interim Town Administrator. Screenshot from Acushnet Cable TV online streaming.
By Beth David, Editor
The Acushnet Selectboard hired James F. Kelley to serve as interim Town Administrator at its meeting on 1/26/22. Mr. Kelley has served as a Town Administrator, a Finance Director, Human Resources Director, and was Vice Chair of the state’s Labor Board. An attorney, has also worked in the state auditor’s office, bureau of state buildings, and has held several other government positions.
Mr. Kelley told the board and the public that he lives in Norton and has served on boards there.
“I understand the small town,” he said.
Mr. Kelley met with town department heads earlier that day and told the board that he was “encouraged,” because they had a “great group of department heads,” and he looked forward to working with them.
“I understand my job as interim is to make sure the continuity of operations keeps going. I have done this in the past in other communities, he said, noting he was a interim TA in Millbury.
Mr. Kelley said that making sure town services, “that are superior,” continue and getting through town meeting will be his focus in the next few months.
Before the vote, Selectboard member David Wojnar thanked SB Chairperson David Desroches who had “stepped up to fill the void,” and has “essentially been the de facto Town Administrator the last month and a half.”
He said Mr. Desroches had worked behind the scenes “putting out a lot of fires,” and Executive Administrative Assistant Lisa Leonard had done the same.
He also recognized that fellow SB member Kevin Gaspar had done a lot of work on the town’s finances.
He said it was a time of “transition and change, hesitating to use the word “crisis,” so as not to overstate.
“But when things got a little funky, you guys have all pitched in,” said Mr. Wojnar. “So I want to commend all three of you for your work on that.”
The board voted unanimously to make it official, and Mr. Kelley assumed his seat next to the long table.
“That’s your seat for the next five months, my friend,” said Mr. Gaspar.
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