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Natick names Troy Smith as its first director of equity, inclusion & outreach

June 1, 2023 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Troy Smith this week started his job as Natick’s first director of equity, inclusion & outreach, the culmination of an effort by the town over the past few years to hire such an administrator. Smith is expected to introduce himself to the public at a Select Board meeting in June.

Smith comes to Natick from North Shore Community College, where he has been a tenured professor in behavioral science, most recently teaching sociology. He has consulted with the city of Lynn on equity and inclusion matters.

During the summer and fall of 2020 following George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the protests that took place locally and across the country, Natick and other communities vowed to take steps toward ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in all they do. Natick formed an 11-member Equity Task Force that did its work throughout the end of 2020 and into 2021, and recommended formation of a standing DEI committee.  The Select Board asserted over the summer of 2021 that it would sponsor a Fall Town Meeting article that would pave the way for Natick to hire its first chief diversity officer.

Natick began seeking a director in March of 2022, but was challenged to find enough strong candidates—a challenge other organizations have had as well. It’s been particularly tough for municipalities wooing talent against well-heeled corporations. Natick reposted its job listing last October.

That job posting read: The position is responsible for the development of diversity, equity and inclusion programs for the Town, leading/supporting the Town’s efforts to support disproportionately impacted populations impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and engage with the Select Board and relevant stakeholders in advancing such work. The Director of Equity, Inclusion & Outreach will work to develop and operationalize a long-term program of initiatives that will develop a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, target support for disproportionately impacted populations of the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop priorities that provide opportunities to build diversity and inclusive practices into the Town’s operations. The Director of Equity, Inclusion & Outreach will work with boards/committees of the Town as well as community groups as necessary and described in the essential job functions. For purposes of this position description, social equity is meant to include race/ethnicity, physical ability, LBGTQIA+ identity, socio-economic status as examples, but is intended to be inclusive of all people.

It’s expected that Natick will now revisit the idea of forming a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, an effort it decided to postpone until hiring a director.


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Filed Under: Embracing diversity, Government

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Deadline to apply for Natick FinCom: June 17

June 1, 2023 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

The town of Natick has issued a notice of pending appointments to the Finance Committee, which plays a huge role in reviewing Town Meeting articles, and also has the power to investigate town departments. The Committee consists of 15 town citizens, each of whom have 3-year terms.

The town moderator will appoint 5 members on or before June 30.

Prospective appointees shall file an application online (see Apply button) or submit a letter (emails accepted) of interest no later than June 17. You can email Moderator Frank Foss at moderator@natickma.org or call 508-655-4905 (evenings).

A successful candidate should demonstrate:

1) a general knowledge of all aspects of the Town of Natick operating and capital budgets, including the practices and processes to compile, review and approve such budgets,

2) an understanding of the Town zoning and zoning by-laws, with emphasis on the process and authority to approve such by-laws,

3) knowledge of the roles and duties related to the executive, legislative and administrative officials of the Town,

4) skills relating to auditing the business of the Town departments, particularly with respect to fiscal and programmatic matters,

5) the willingness and ability to attend multiple meetings and/or public hearings per week during the multi-week periods preceding the Spring Annual Town Meeting, Fall Annual Town Meeting, and or any special town meeting, and

6) the ability to occasionally participate in special committee assignments (e.g., committees of Town Meeting/Chair assignments.

See the FinCom in action via recordings on Natick Pegasus.


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Filed Under: Government



Memorial Day observances in Natick, 2023

May 26, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick has a number of observances and activities on Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a national holiday and honors those who lost their lives while defending their country.

natick high symphonic band memorial day 22

Monday, May 29
8:15am—Flag raising at Moran Park (near the downtown MBTA station)
8:30am—Parade forms at Moran Park
8:40am—Parade marches to Town Common
9am—Ceremonies at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Monument
10am—Parade resumes and marches from East Central to West Central and onto Pond Street for memorial services at Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries.
11am—Parade resumes, marches to Indian Burial Ground on Pond Street for ceremonies at 11:15 a.m.
11:30am—Parade disbands.

Other important info

Parking meters in Natick will be free on Monday, May 29.

Natick’s Recycling Center, located on West Street at the corner of Route 27, is closed on Mon., May 29 (as well as every other Monday).

Natick Town offices will be closed Monday, May 29.

Memorial Day is an official holiday for the US Postal Service, so Post Offices will be closed on Monday, May 29 and there will be no home delivery of mail. It is also an official holiday for UPS, but scheduled UPS Critical Express and UPS Holiday packages should still arrive.

Massachusetts law states that liquor stores may not open until noon.

Morse Institute Library will be closed Saturday, May 27; Sunday, May 28; and Monday, May 29, in observance of the holiday.

The Bacon Free Library will be closed Saturday, May 27 (and all Saturdays Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; and Sunday, May 28 (and all Sundays).


More: Natick military veterans and war memorial tour

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Filed Under: Bacon Free Library, Government, Holidays

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Natick water rates going up 4%, more PFAS mitigation investments coming

May 18, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick water rates are rising 4% come mid-year, per an update this week by Bill Spratt, executive director of the DPW and Facilities. You can catch his Select Board presentation about 45 minutes into the Natick Pegasus recording.

This would be the lowest rate change since fiscal year ’18.

The new rates could add more than $30 a month to the quarterly water and sewer bill of a single-family residence come the period beginning July 1. On the bright side, you’re only paying about 1.9 cents per gallon.

Spratt says the town’s costs are increasing, and as a result of this and other considerations such as debt/income ratio, ratepayers need to pay more. Water consumption tiers have been rebalanced to make the math work based on a consultant-recommended model that takes past usage from “normal” years such as FY19 and FY 21 as well as future financial estimates into consideration. Sorting all this out hasn’t been easy, Spratt said, describing how complicated the town’s current system of tiering is.

natick water

Among the town’s cost challenges will be filtering out even more PFAS “forever chemicals,” which the state and now the feds are cracking down on with new regulations. “Regulations will change and we’ll have to come up to speed with those regulations,” Spratt said.

Natick has invested some $5.5M for PFAS filters and other support, but it needs more. Spratt said the town’s Tonka treatment plant has the capacity to produce 4 million gallons of water a day, but can only filter half that amount currently due to a lack of PFAS filters. The town would love to have that capacity totally available given that other treatment facilities, such as the one at Elm Bank, are dependent on Charles River water flow.

Spratt said “I think we need to look at this rate structure and rate proposal as a continuum. We can’t just set our rates and assume we can continue to set rates the same way every single year.”

Considerations to improve retained earnings in years to come include possibly charging more for customers with larger meters, increasing the base (minimum) rate, and getting a better handle on municipal use.

Spratt also took the opportunity to plug the WaterSmart app that customers can use to monitor their water usage and spot possible issues, such as toilet leaks, that can lead to big bills. The Select Board entertains a steady stream of water and sewer bill abatement hearings, some of which might have been headed off via WaterSmart usage.


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Filed Under: Government

Natick names Rieder as director of facilities

May 16, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick has assembled a new dream team to oversee its departments of public works and facilities management.

Former facilities director Bill Spratt had already taken over the new role of executive director of public works and facilities following a couple of management departures, and we posted last week about John Westerling being hired as director of public works (“Natick hires award-winning Hopkinton DPW director John Westerling”).

Not to give short shrift to Andy Rieder, who the town this week said has been hired as director of facilities. Rieder’s an industry veteran who has spent the past 10 years as preventive maintenance manager for Somerville.

In Natick, he’ll oversee facilities that include some 30 town and school buildings.


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Filed Under: Government

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