Ragucci named Town Admistrator
Published on January 17th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - The town's Board of Selectmen unanimously declared former Everett Mayor David Ragucci as their top choice to replace outgoing Town Administrator Ron Florino on Tuesday.
According to the Selectmen, the town's new Town Administrator plans to report to work on Feb. 1 and will receive a salary between $90,000 and $110,000.
Ragucci, who served four terms as Everett's mayor until his recent election defeat last year, beat out second finalist Jim Johnson for the post. Johnson, a Winchester native and current Norwood resident, presently serves as the Assistant Town Administrator in the South Shore community of Walpole.
A third finalist, who was also selected for a final interview out of the pool of 40 potential candidates, reportedly came from a background consisting of mostly private sector experience. The applicant, whose name was not available, apparently declined to be interviewed after being contacted by the Selectmen.
According to Selectman Paul Rotondi, who made the motion to hire Ragucci, he believed both finalists possessed the management, negotiation, and financial backgrounds the board sought in a new Town Administrator.
However, the first-term Selectman couldn't pass-up on selecting a candidate with the type of municipal government experience Ragucci's background boasted of.
"The discriminant for me is that I think we were very fortunate to have an ex-mayor [as a candidate] with the experience he brings along with that," Rotondi commented. "I think he can bring to Stoneham a new initiative. I think he could be the impetus for some positive change."
Citing another reason for tapping the former mayor for the position, Selectman John DePinto referred to Stoneham's difficult budget picture, a situation that has been exacerbated by reductions in state aid and chapter 70 or educational funding.
According to the Selectman, despite the town's best attempts to lobby the State House for a much needed jump in local aid, that effort has largely failed due to poor or non-existent ties to the power brokers on Beacon Hill.
However, DePinto felt that Ragucci's proven effectiveness in advocating for Everett during his four-terms as Mayor in that city may change that disappointing trend.
"I was really impressed with the passion that both candidates expressed for the job. But one thing that [Ragucci] mentioned during the interview was his experience dealing with the State House. I think he's going to bring a different element to this town," DePinto predicted.
"John, you worded it well, 'Opening doors and getting through doors [on Beacon Hill', and I think he'll be that way," Selectman George Seibold added in agreement. "I think that's been something that's been lacking in this town."
Citing his reason for picking the Everett resident, Selectman Tony Kennedy referred to the candidates background in commercial real-estate.
During his interview in the Town Hall conference room earlier on Tuesday night, Ragucci claimed that he squeezed major concessions out of developers interested in coming to the city when he was mayor.
Specifically, the Town Administrator applicant referred to his success in having multiple playing fields and parks rebuilt free-of-charge by developers interested in moving their businesses to Everett.
According to Kennedy, Stoneham could benefit from that experience, especially with the need to fill the empty store fronts in several areas, including at the Redstone Shopping Plaza, with new tenants.
"You look around and there are areas in town that are really crying out for redevelopment. I think that's very important because it will create a tax-base," the veteran Selectman said.
During the interviews with the finalists held earlier on Tuesday night, both candidates expressed a willingness to make some tough budget decisions during their tenure.
In addition, both candidates, who described their management style as very hands-on, planned to convene monthly department head meetings to create more cohesion across government offices.
"Even if they have nothing to say, it's important to get them all together. It just gets everybody talking and increases communication between departments," said Johnson of the monthly gatherings.
"I know how Town Halls can be. They can be gossipy. But I'd like to think I can bring them along with that [any] change. If they don't like it, they'll have to deal with it or perhaps find somewhere else to go."
"I plan on moving to Stoneham with my wife and my girl [if I'm hired]," the runner-up furthered. "I know this board has a difficult decision, but personally, I think I'm the right man for the job. I'm in this for the long run."
Although Ragucci didn't reveal any plans to move within the town, he did vow that he would stay in the corner office for a number of years as well.
According to the new Town Administrator, he plans to look at a number of ways to consolidate government functions, a similar approach he took in Everett.
The new Town Hall manager also hopes to institute some type of employee evaluation system, one that measures department goals against accomplishments made the year prior. However, Ragucci did emphasize that before he implemented such a system, he would first need to get a feel for the town and its workers.
Ragucci did feel that both Everett and Stoneham's population were similar, and that there was some level of consolidation in Stoneham's future under his lead.
"Everett is very much like Stoneham where both have an aging population that doesn't like change," said Ragucci. "When I stepped into office, we had about 68 public works employees and I whittled it down to 42 by the time I left."
"When I stepped in, you had a parks department, a highway department, a cemetery department, and a water and sewer department, all with different directors," the new Town Administrator added. "It was so backwards. We did quite a bit of outsourcing through consolidation."
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