Maass brings pleasant surprise to Marblehead FinCom

MARBLEHEAD – New Superintendent of Schools Greg Maass couldn?t have asked for a better introduction to the Finance Committee.Maass told the FinCom Monday evening that he and Interim School Business Manager Kevin Meagher filed the Marblehead school department?s year-end report on the Fiscal 2011 budget and spending with the Massachusetts Department of Education Friday, Sept. 30, the state deadline, 90 days after the end of the fiscal year.?We got it done on time and we are not requesting an extension,” Maass said. “Half the school departments in Massachusetts are requesting extensions.”Assistant Director of Accounting Bob Ross, who attends FinCom meetings, said it more strongly. “I?ve been following town finances now for 25 years,” he said. “This is the first time I?ve ever seen that report done on time.”For Maass, who told the committee he believes in challenging himself, completing the year-end report meant two things: starting to think about the Fiscal 2013 budget and beginning his search for a settled school business manager. In accordance with an agreement made when Maass hired him, Meagher will be a candidate for the post.FinCom members had few questions for the new superintendent on his introductory visit. Matthew Herring noted that the school budget is a large percentage of the town budget and asked Maass to help him and townspeople understand the school budget better. He also asked for “a grand plan” for school construction.Dick Nohelty, a School Committee member and co-chair of the Glover School Building Committee, told the FinCom the town created a school Master Plan in 1999 and has built a new high school, renovated a new middle school, repaired the Marblehead Village School and is about to build a new Glover-Eveleth School next year.Later in the meeting FinCom Chairman David Harris stepped down from his position as the committee?s representative on the Glover School Building Committee, pointing out that he has been on the committee three years and the committee and the project are entering a construction phase. New member Paul Pruett will take his place and Vice Chairman Moses Grader will act as Pruett?s alternate.