MARBLEHEAD — The Select Board discussed the ongoing search for a new chief financial officer and a new survey system called FlashVote that will bridge a communication gap at its meeting Wednesday.
Town Administrator Thatcher W. Kezer III gave an update on the current search for a chief financial officer to replace Aleesha Benjamin, who will depart from her position in August.
Due to a fast turnaround, the board is still searching for an applicant to fill this position. Kezer suggested that, to ensure the role is not left unfilled for too long, a temporary measure could be taken to appoint a skilled treasurer from across committees or outsource through the consultant agency Clifton Larson Allen.
This temporary appointee would not be given the exact salary an official chief financial officer would make; however, they would be compensated. These measures would be temporary, and the board will have further discussions on what the best next step will be.
Jeff Sereni and FlashVote CEO Kevin Lyons introduced a new survey service that will allow the town of Marblehead to better understand what their constituents need. In addition, the public will have the ability to share their opinions through an anonymous forum.
FlashVote creates the panels and surveys based on Marblehead’s demographics and the issues most pressing to constituents. This program helps to bridge the gap between constituents and city government to make communication feel more streamlined, even if it is anonymous.
Like any town, Marblehead is not without its grievances toward the town government. The hope is that this service will create a baseline for more open and honest communication on the issues that are most pressing for Marblehead.
In an exciting turn of events, the Planning Board is welcoming a new member, Susan Koelle.
Koelle owns and operates her own architecture business, Susan Koelle Architect LLC, where she and a small team serve the greater Boston area.
Koelle has been embedded within North Shore communities for a long time and plans to use her time on the planning board to continue the betterment of Marblehead.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, Koelle was selected as the newest member of the Planning Board, where she will bring her expertise and a love for the Marblehead community. She will be sworn in Thursday morning.
