Town Governance Committee reviews organizational assessment interim findings.
Town Governance Committee · Meeting of July 8, 2026
WEST NEWBURY — Town Governance Committee reviews organizational audit interim findings. Julie Jacobson of Community Paradigm presented findings showing misalignments between the Town Manager Special Act, bylaws, and personnel policies, with some employees and boards implementing practices no longer legal under the Special Act. The assessment, which reviewed municipal staffing, organizational structure, and the transition to Town Manager Government while comparing West Newbury to nine similar communities, identified needs for formal strategic planning, human resources improvements, succession planning for the Department of Public Works, and a more clearly defined budget process.
The Town was reported as financially stable with most operations functioning effectively. The committee unanimously approved June meeting minutes and scheduled its next meeting for July 15, 2026 with the consultants present to provide feedback on draft reports.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 366 words
Source: the Town Governance Committee meeting of July 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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